Bike Trails

Mount Morgan bike trails move up a gear

Mount Morgan is set to show the world how it rolls with construction well underway on 25kms of mountain bike trails near the No. 7 Dam, so get set to weave your way through historic hills of cycads and ironbark. The project is made possible through more than $600 000 in funding from Round 3 of the Works for Queensland program. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the project would have some great benefits for the community. “The $600 million Works for Queensland program and the new $200 million COVID Works for Queensland plan are all about creating jobs and bringing real benefits to communities,” said Minister Hinchliffe.

“This program has a great track record of kickstarting jobs and investment in the Rockhampton Region. “Through the original Works for Queensland program, the Council has received more than $27 million for 37 projects, estimated to create or support almost 750 jobs, while the COVID-specific program will create or support up to 60 jobs. “Across the world, the pandemic has felled economies and Queensland has not been immune but we have an economic plan that is already in place and these programs are a significant part of those plans.” Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said this is one of the key projects that was identified in Council’s ‘Advancing Mount Morgan’ strategy, which was adopted in November last year. “We spent a lot of time working with the passionate residents of Mount Morgan to map out the future of this historic town,” said Mayor Strelow. “These trails were one of the projects that the community was very excited about as a way to not only draw tourists but also further activate this stunning recreational area for residents.

“Council’s economic development unit, Advance Rockhampton, have been collaborating closely with the community on the development of these trails, which will offer varying levels of difficulty for riders.”

Divisional Councillor Cherie Rutherford said these trails are a major project for the community. “We have already seen how successful the First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve has been as a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around Australia,” said Cr Rutherford.

“This world-class trail will do the same thing for Mount Morgan, as well as provide a fantastic place for people from across our Region to get out and explore.” The trails are expected to open before Christmas this year.

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Wattle Day (A celebration of Australia and its people)

The first celebration of Wattle Day in more than one state on the same day took place, on 1 September 1910 in NSW, Victoria, and South Australia.

Then with the First World War (1914-1918) it was decided to sell wattle sprigs to raise money for the troops overseas, and later for maimed soldiers and women and children's charities. The date was changed to 1 August in NSW and other dates elsewhere to coincide with the best flowering of their local wattles from July (Qld) to late September (South Australia). In 1992 as a unifying gesture for this celebration, the first day of spring - 1 September - was proclaimed by the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, to be Australia's National Wattle Day for everyone across Australia to celebrate at the same time. The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia's official floral emblem.

1 September is officially the start of Spring, a time when many Acacia species (commonly called wattles) are in flower. As one species of a large group of flora growing across Australia, the golden wattle is a symbol of unity. Wattle is ideally suited to withstand Australia's droughts, winds, and bushfires. Mount Morgan has a unique species of wattle called Acacia podalyriifolia – Common names for it are Mount Morgan wattle, Queensland silver wattle, Queensland wattle, pearl acacia, pearl wattle and silver wattle.

The resilience of wattle represents the spirit of the Australian people, whose need for both unity and resilience has never been more relevant, to get through these difficult Covid-19 times. Several planned wattle festivals around Australia have been cancelled to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community and Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc. (MMPAD) have unfortunately had to cancel this year’s Wattle Fun Day. Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc. (MMPAD) has held the Mount Morgan Wattle Fun Day on the first Saturday of September, up until 2019. This free family orientated activity commenced in 2013.

The event is a full morning of fun held at the Historic Railway Complex and includes live entertainment, children’s amusement rides and some fantastic activities. The MMPAD Wattle Day award is also presented to a Mount Morgan local ‘Quiet Achiever”. Previous recipients of the award were Murray Hare, Jim Gould, Barry Taylor, Kirra Swain and Peter Richardson. For past Wattle Day festivities, local Golden Mount Nursery proprietors Di and Murray Hare, kindly donated free wattle seedlings to attendees. The weather has not been favourable for growing wattle from seeds this year. Once the plants flower and seed it takes at least a month for them to germinate. This year if you are looking to purchase a wattle tree contact Golden Mount Nursery directly. Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc. is looking forward to presenting the Wattle Day and Village Markets in 2021. Although 2020 is a year like no other, people are finding ways to celebrate all that we have in Australia. Why not greet each other with ‘Happy Wattle Day’, organise a picnic, morning tea for family and friends, go for a walk in the garden or bush, wear something yellow, or wear a sprig of Wattle

What are you doing for National Wattle Day, Tuesday, 1 September this year? The Wattle by Henry Lawson I saw it in the days gone by, When the dead girl lay at rest, And the wattle and the native rose We placed upon her breast.

I saw it in the long ago (And I've seen strong men die), And who, to wear the wattle, Hath better right than I?

I've fought it through the world since then, And seen the best and worst, But always in the lands of men I held Australia first.

I wrote for her, I fought for her, And when at last I lie, Then who, to wear the wattle, has A better right than I?

Members of Queensland Fire and Rescue, mount Morgan.