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Premier Anna Bligh's announcement that QantasLink would return their third air service to Blackall and Barcaldine was greeted with enthusiasm. The Queensland Government and Blackall-Tambo Regional Council are jointly funding a $360,000 upgrade for Blackall Airport, which will enable it to cater for the 74-seat QantasLink Q400 aircraft.

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Barcaldine 14-year-olds Sam Welsh (left) and Connor Jones became the youngest people ever to make a deputation at Community Cabinet. They met with Minister for Sport Phil Reeves to seek funding for a skateboard facility. They were accompanied to the deputation by Carl O'Neill of Home Assist Secure, Barcaldine (back).

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At the forum in Barcaldine, Premier Anna Bligh extolled the virtues of eating kangaroo sirloin kebabs. They were prepared by Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler and his wife Deb and served by Barcaldine Girl Guides Anna Easton (pictured left) and Ana Grant.

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Students of the Longreach School of Distance Education chatted with surprise guests when they logged on for school on Monday 2 November.

Seated: Principal Robyn Conlin, Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Education Geoff Wilson. Standing: Deputy Principals Rachelle Moore and Nadine Stock and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Carolyn Male.

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The fabulous handiwork of the district's quilters was on display at the Airing of the Quilts in Barcaldine. The event raised money to support the Jennie Lockie Community Assistance Association.

Left to right: Suzy McKenzie, Betty Wason, Sue Denham, Jean Lennon, Sandra Musson, Sandy Gray (organiser) and Tatiana McKenzie.

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Barcaldine Kindergarten mothers catered at the Airing of the Quilts.

Left to right: Lainie Gray (with Lily), Kylie Angel, Lexine O'Donnell (with Kadea), Kate Birse, Naomi Wehl and Jane Dickson (with Mia).

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A $1.75 million upgrade on the Capricorn Highway has given tourists improved access to the Tree of Knowledge Memorial in Barcaldine. Premier Anna Bligh officially re-opened the road to traffic before the start of Community Cabinet.

Left to right: Eric Denham, Central West Regional Director of Main Roads; Premier Anna Bligh; Craig Wallace, Minister for Main Roads; and Rob Chandler, Mayor of Barcaldine Regional Council.

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Welcoming guests to the official Community Cabinet reception held under the Tree of Knowledge Memorial, Premier Anna Bligh gave her seal of approval to the region's newest tourist attraction, describing it as bold and artistically courageous.

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Under the Tree of Knowledge Memorial at Barcaldine - Simon Farley, State Library of Queensland and Kate Jones, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability put on white gloves to handle the historic Manifesto of the Australian Labour Party, at the very spot where it was first read out in 1891.

Recently named by UNESCO as a document of international significance, the Manifesto is considered the foundation document of the ALP. It provides a detailed account of strikers' grievances against employers and the government during the Great Shearer's Strike of 1891.

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At the Community Cabinet reception held under the Tree of Knowledge Memorial, Premier Anna Bligh presented Barcaldine Regional Mayor Rob Chandler with a photograph from the State Archives. It showed Oak Street Barcaldine in 1938.

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Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe (left) with Mayor of Blackall-Tambo Regional Council Jan Ross and John McKinnon of Barcaldine at the Government Reception at the Tree of Knowledge Memorial.

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Minister for Tourism Peter Lawlor officially unveiled a GPS marker at Barcaldine to honour early surveyors and help modern day travellers fine tune their electronic navigation equipment.

Left to right: Steve Wettenhall, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Tourism; Les Brooks, Hoffman Surveyors; Minister Lawlor; Kevin Kerr, Barcaldine; and Cr Garry Bettiens, Barcaldine Regional Council.

Through Q150, the Queensland Government granted the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute $80,000 to install up to 60 permanent survey marks across Queensland. Premier Anna Bligh unveiled a similar marker in Longreach at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame.

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Minister for Sport Phil Reeves took the opportunity to inspect Queensland Government funded improvements at Longreach Aquatic Centre which included an indoor and children's play pools.

Left to right: Cr Mick Bischel, Mayor John Palmer, Longreach Regional Council; Minister Reeves; and Maree and Brian Shorter, pool lessees.

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Barcaldine's Pearl Eatts was honoured for her work with the Indigenous community by Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Desley Boyle.

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A deputation seeking support for a Kindergarten and Community Centre in Barcaldine met with Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson.

Front: Community Coordinator Louise Gronold; Minister Wilson; Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson.

Back: Steering committee member Graeme Wills; and Principal of Barcaldine State School Robin Raynor.

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Minister for Local Government Desley Boyle (left) presented a cheque for $11,197 to assist the Longreach Show Society Inc in staging next year's show.

She inspected the main arena with Show Society President Cr Rae Bowden and Treasurer Doug Timms. Other Western Queensland show societies to receive assistance grants include Alpha, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Winton as well as Isisford Sheep & Wool Show Inc, Tambo Stock Show Inc and The Landsborough Flock Ewe Show Society Inc.

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In response to an independent review of Queensland's wild dog strategy by Peter Kenny (pictured left), following the Community Cabinet meeting at Longreach, Premier Anna Bligh announced the establishment of the new QDOG think-tank.

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Minister for Community Services and Housing Karen Struthers on the veranda of the Barcaldine Shire Hall with Cr Dale Appleton, Isaacs Regional Council; Don Alexander, Rural Fire Brigades Assoc of Qld; John Chandler, AgForce; and Larry Lewis, Queensland Fire & Rescue. Larry was presented with a 20 years Meritorious Service Award at Community Cabinet.

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Ed Warren, Mayor of Winton and Louise Campbell and Robyn Adams of CICADAS (Creative Industries Culture Arts Development Assistance and Support) met with Premier and Minister for the Arts Anna Bligh about developing arts opportunities in Central and South West Queensland.

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Lisa Balderson, Barcaldine; Fashions of the Field winner Jennifer Oswald, Clermont; and Louise Bode, Charters Towers enjoyed the Think Pink Barcaldine Races held on the weekend of Community Cabinet.

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It was busy weekend for Main Roads staffers Toni Austin and Gerry Fogarty who manned an information stall at Community Cabinet on Sunday after helping to organise Barcaldine Races the day before.

Inset photo: Race club treasurer Toni and President Gerry with race club Secretary Hannah Whiteaker. Gerry, an Iningai Elder also delivered the official ‘Welcome to Country' at Barcaldine Community Cabinet.

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The Community Cabinet meeting in Longreach was held at the Qantas Founder's Museum.

Left to right: Ian Burnett, Vice-President, AgForce; Vaughan Johnson, Member for Gregory; Richard Murray, Deputy Mayor, Longreach Regional Council (LRC); Michelle McFadyen, CEO, LRC; and John Palmer, Mayor LRC.

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Mayors came from throughout the west to attend Community Cabinet at Barcaldine. Discussing development opportunities in the Galilee Basin were Gary Peoples, former Mayor of Aramac; Helen Stebhens, Hancock Coal; Robbie Dare, Diamantina Shire Mayor; and Bruce Scott, Barcoo Shire Mayor.

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The 2nd edition of Animal health and disease investigation was launched at Barcaldine Community Cabinet.

Left to right: Rob Chandler, Mayor of Barcaldine Regional Council; Simon Campbell, Norwood Station, Blackall; Janet Berry and Bob Cottam, authors; and Peter Henneken, A/DG, Dept of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation.