20250617 Qld Roma to Injune

20250617 Well here we are back in Roma and I’ve always wanted to stop and check out the sculptures in the park as you enter the town only this time there are many more due to a outdoor exhibition. Sculptures Out Back is celebrating local history, cultural heritage, community, and the environment, artists from around Australia display their handcrafted pieces on the bank of Roma’s Bungil Creek and is definitely worth a stop. With nearly $40,000 in prize money up for grabs, this exhibition is not only a showcase of artistic brilliance but also an opportunity for sculptures to become part of the region’s public art collection. Sculptures are scored on first impression, creativity, originality, finish, composition and texture.

And the winner is: Yeh, Nah, She s Bogged

This sculpture is a playful tribute to everyday life in the Maranoa - a familiar scene of one bush-battered truck pulling another out of a bog, complete with three life-sized cartoon-style characters caught in the chaos.

It s a whimsical recreation of those muddy, frustrating, and often hilarious moments that anyone from Roma or the surrounding bush knows well - the kind of story you d hear retold at the local pub for years to come. 

Adding to the charm, the piece features a classic 1950s tow truck driver hauling out a bogged 1924 Oldsmobile - a collision of eras that speaks to the timelessness of bush ingenuity (and the tendency for things to get a bit stuck now and then). It s a nod to the Maranoa's mechanical past and the characters who kept things moving - or tried to. It’s all yours for a Mia $35,000

I just love the added extra of a dog peeing on the wheel.

King of the Feather, $90,000 for this one if your keen.

This sculpture represent the thousands of Light Horsemen who served in WW1 and to bring attention to their history and significance. By piecing together from farm scrap, the artist has endeavoured to bring detail and authenticity to his art. 

King of the Feather, was given to the light horsemen, perhaps by the Ottoman Turks - "Johnny Turks" because of the kangaroo feather in their hats. (A little Aussie humour during the war). The inspiration came from growing up west of the range between Bonalbo and Tabulam in northern NSW. Tabulam was the birthplace of the Light Horse Brigade and of Sir Harry Chauvel, commander of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. Some of the statistics that were achieved by the humble men of the Desert Corps of WW1 were astonishing. These include the destruction of three armies, the capture of 75000 prisoners, 800 machine guns and over 360 guns. Their efforts in the rough desert terrain include pushing back enemy armies some 600km at an average of 56km per day. One of the most well-known things that the Light Horsemen did was the Charge of Beersheba in 1917, which saw 800 horsemen, led by Sir Harry Chauvel, charging the heavily-defended city of Beersheba. They suffered only 32 deaths and 36 wounded but captured 1200 prisoners. These men did what Napoleon could not!

Mansfield drew inspiration from his childhood memories of a Santa Gertrudis bull weighing 1100 kilograms, aiming to capture the animal's size, power, and strength.

I just loved the added effect of the poop and the bulls bum hole, it gave me a laugh. 

"BUSHMAN'S BOOT"

Country Resilience Starter Pack, $5000

Resilience in the country is a way of life not a lofty concept built on the daily mastery of fear, starting young in the humble chook yard. Here, courage isn't about the absence of fear; it's about facing down the rooster with nerves of steel and living to tell the tale. This work highlights how country kids cultivate resilience in the face of challenges that would send many city dwellers packing. From floods and bushfires to droughts and the occasional problem caused by politicians who have never set foot in a paddock, country kids learn early that life doesn't wait for you to figure it out. Through shared chores and inevitable hilarity, they try to educate their city cousins about this rugged spirit of courage. This piece is a cheeky tribute to the grit, determination, and humour of country kids who show us all that resilience isn't just about surviving its about thriving, laughing, and teaching the next generation to face life s challenges head-on. After all, nothing says courage like staring down a rooster and saying, "bring it on." Here s to fearless mornings in the chook yard and the unstoppable spirit that comes with them!

The Seat of Knowledge, Winner Roma Wire and Steel Garden Seat Prize 2022

This seat was created to pay tribute to all Australians. The Cockaloo's name is Artie after the great indigenous Rugby League player Arthur Beetson, who was born in Roma, the Kookaburra is named King. ley for the King of the Kookas and the Magpie is Mervin named after the cricketer Merv Hughes.

This is just a few of the amazing sculptures, way too many to show them all so if you are keen to see the rest just hop on down to Roma and check them out.

With our site seeing done we head out to Bungeworgorai Creek Rest Stop for a few days, its not a bad camp just off the road, as long as there’s no nutter’s with a heap of dogs walking around abusing you for picking up wood like once when we were here. There were however some kids on trail bike doing wheel stands and they were pretty good, they kept us entertained and we even waved as they passed. We spent a few days here just walking the grounds and chatting with other campers and sitting around a fire.

Sun 0621 We head into the Roma Gun Club for a couple of days to wash some clothes, them at 4pm every day is happy hour at the club and only $5:50 for a beer and spirits, now who can pass that up. 

The Roma Gun Club, originally known as the Roma Rifle Club, was established in 1914. It has a history dating back to the Roma Rifle Corps, which was set up by the Queensland colony in 1885.

Gun Club and Camping Grounds and only $15 each per night, bargain.

I’ve seen this type of shooting on TV but never live and we were lucky enough to see the guys in action.

Mon 0622 We left the gun club stopping in Roma for supplies and to return some meat I brought the day before after being told it was tender, I don’t mind paying for meat and at $40 for two pieces of steak I expect it to be tender. George was the butcher’s name and was more than helpful replacing my meat for hopefully tender steaks which I cooked and was more delighted. We saw a Historic Site sign about 90kl from Roma so we pulled in and decided to camp the night, little did we know it was only 5 minutes from Injune.

The mine was opened in 1932, Maranoa Collieries was a cornerstone of employment and industrial activity in the area, contributing to the development of the town. The collieries not only provided jobs for many local residents but also helped shape the economic landscape of the region.

Coal was first reported in 1879 but it wasn’t until 1913 a prospecting licence was taken out, it was sold to Mr Fred Hart of Maranoa Collieries Pty Ltd. Test drilling started in 1922 then coal was found in 1926. In 1932, Mr Ned Wall from Ipswich supervised the drilling of tunnels and the removal of the first coal in February 1933. Up to 100 tons of coal a day was extracted by the miners and the faithful pit ponies Ada, Toby, Ben and Jenni. The mine supplied coking coal for the locomotives on the Western Rail Line from Roma to Cunnamulla.

The floods in January 1954 caused a huge cave in of Number 1 & 2 shafts up to 30 feet deep on the main Injune-Roma Road. The hole filled with water to within 6 feet of the top, on 13th January 1956, Henry (Vince) Regan's life was tragically lost from drowning when his Ford Prefect sedan accidentally drove into this hole. Maurice Lindsay Sellars was awarded a medal for Bravery from The Royal Humane Society of Australasia when he rescued the passenger Charles Hearne from the car. 

In 1963 the last coal was drawn out and the mine was closed on 27th August.

This is when men were men, check out those sexy shorts.

The life of a Pit Pony.

Scatted around the town are historical plaques and memorials of the "Characters of Injune" which celebrates individuals who have contributed to the community.

Felix Varcin 1892 - 1983, a pioneers of Injune in the twenties, born in France in 1892 he migrated to Australia with his parents and 6 siblings in 1909, initially settling in the Wallumbilla district. His first job was at the Romavilla vineyard, where he learned to speak English. He then worked as a stockman and horse breaker around Goondiwindi. In 1916, along with two of his brothers, he enlisted in the Australian Armed Forces. While waiting in Brisbane for posting, he won a medal for riding the famous 'Queenslander' in Lance Skuthorpe's buckjumping show. He served with the Field Engineers in France. After hostilities ceased he became an interpreter for the army, and was discharged in 1919.

The Injune Hotel, also known as the Coronation Hotel, was established in 1937. It has been serving the community and traveler's for over 87 years.

No beer for Des, he has to drive but you can browse at all the novelty’s scattered around the Pub.

Now somewhere on these walls is our signature from when we were here in 2011 but I’m bugged if I can find it.

Poor birds locked in a gage instead of flying free, the cockatoo was huge, one of the biggest I’ve  ever seen and the parrot would put his head down for a scratch, it was so cute I just wanted to set them free.

The End