Community & Business
8 January, 2026
New Year, Same Woolshed
Having been sold out a week in advance, the Jondaryan Woolshed was packed to the brim for New Year’s celebrations, which were marked in local halls across the district.
As it has done for the past 30 years Ridgee Didge Bush Band provided the night’s music, and led the capacity crowd in a night of dancing celebrations, to mark the end of 2025, and the beginning of 2026.
There were jigs and reels for the bush dances, old time dances for the not so young, as well as dances for the little ones - the whole family was catered for!
Around 80 of the Woolshed seats were booked for the 50th birthday celebrations of local nurse JA Hensel.
All up, there were 350 in attendance, all of whom were provided with a complementary dinner with some old-fashioned damper, prepared by the Friends of the Jondaryan Woolshed.
Meanwhile, over at Bowenville Hall, music was led by the Kingaroy-based ‘Mystique’ (Dave Muller) and Oakey-based ‘Diamonds’ (Val Mason).
At midnight, streamers and poppers were let off and whistles were blown to mark the start of the year. Paper-covered lollies were also thrown onto the floor, all of which were taken home.
Just after midnight, dancers stepped outside to watch the fireworks, organised by the local hotel.
At Gowrie Little Plain Hall, music was led by old time and new vogue band ‘Shades of Country’ from Fernvale.
Here, the crowd sang the traditional Scottish New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne”.
It was a busy month at Gowrie Little Plain, with Hall President Barry Heinemann reporting that the Christmas dance was well attended.
This month, Gowrie Little Plain Hall will hold its regular dances, with ‘Lyn and Ian’ leading the action on the Saturday night, January 17th, and ‘Roger and Barb’ leading on Saturday night, January 31st.
