Maranoa Regional Council Community Afternoon Tea

Maranoa Regional Council Mayor, Councillor Wendy Taylor and Councillors; community leaders; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Yuleba, the Mandandanji and Gunggari people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people with us this afternoon.

What a pleasure it is for Graeme and me to host you today on this, our second official visit to the Maranoa region.

Some of you might recall our visit to Roma back in October 2022, when we had a wonderful time touring some local landmarks, including the Big Rig and Roma Saleyards. We also caught up with local chapters of the many patronage organisations we proudly represent, including the QCWA and the Men’s Shed.

We have an equally busy schedule lined up this time around, thanks largely to the collaboration between my Office and the very helpful team at Maranoa Regional Council.

Already we have attended the opening of The Churches exhibition at the Cobb & Co Store Museum, which has given us a glimpse into how these places of worship have been so central to community life in Surat.

We were delighted to attend the presentation Along the Western Run of Cobb & Co, where Hazel Johnson took us through the fascinating history of Cobb & Co, shedding light on the pioneering days that shaped this region.

We stopped in at the Surat Visitor Information Centre with its 25,000-litre freshwater aquarium and installations celebrating the history of Cobb & Co and the early days of travel and trade in the area.

And we visited the In It For The Long Haul exhibition by Kathy Ellem. Kathy’s artwork beautifully captures the resilience and dedication of those who built this country, with a special focus on rural life.

Of course, you’ll have noticed a theme emerging, which should be no surprise given the main impetus for our visit this time is the Cobb & Co Festival, celebrating 100 years since the last coach service in Australia ran from Surat to Yuleba.

Among the unique invitations lined up for us in the next day or so are tickets to board the last leg of the Cobb & Co Coach. What a wonderful way to experience a piece of our transportation history firsthand!

And then, of course, the official closing ceremony of the festival in Yuleba, a tribute to our incredible outback history - and perhaps a chance to quietly appreciate the improvements in our roads and transport options in the intervening years!

And much like the Cobb & Co Way from Surat to Yuleba, which had no fewer than six staging posts at which fresh horses were harnessed and mail and passengers collected, our latest journey through the history and heritage of this part of Queensland isn’t over yet.

We’re making some important stops along the way, paying our respects at the Surat War Memorial, meeting with staff and patients at the Surat Multipurpose Health Service, and celebrating Surat State School’s 150 years of providing education to the community.

We appreciate this chance to thank you in person for the wonderful hospitality, and for all that you’ve done to make our visit as informative, entertaining and meaningful as possible. Thank you.