This year marks a special milestone for the South Burnett town of Proston.
The Proston and District Heritage Association is hosting the ‘Proston and District Centenary – 100 years down the track’ on the long weekend of Saturday, 30 September to Monday, 1 October.
The centenary is shared with the Proston State School and will be jointly celebrated.
Guests and former residents of Proston and surrounding districts are invited to come back to Proston for this one massive, long weekend of celebrations.
“We would love each and every person to ever have been impacted by Proston, its districts or its schools, to return, bring their families and catch-up with past friends and make a few new ones,” a Proston and District Heritage Association spokesperson said.
The main centenary events will take place in Proston Railway Park and the adjoining State School precinct, with accompanying exhibits at the Proston Show Grounds.
The events commemorate 100 years since the railway came to Proston and the opening of the Proston State School, two historical developments that transformed Proston and surrounding districts.
The centenary events will celebrate the Proston and District community and recognise the vast networks between the town’s remote community and the wider Burnett region and beyond.
The celebrations will kick off on Saturday morning, 30 September with a street parade, official opening and launch of the centenary book ‘Proston -100 Years Down the Track’.
There will be railway tours, a district dressmakers’ exhibition, bus tours of the old district schools and markets, amusements, and food in Railway Park throughout the weekend.
A Centenary Ball will be held at the Proston Town Hall on Saturday evening, promising dinner, music and dancing.
At The Platform stage in Railway Park there will be vintage film footage presented by the Proston APEX Club (winners of the 1980s TV game show It’s A Knockout!) and showing of Bill Keys cultural heritage film of life in and around Proston in the 1950s to 1970s on Saturday night.
The Sunday 1 October program will include morning services, the opening of Proston Village and APEX Park as well as ongoing tours and exhibits.
There will be inter-school sports re-enacted as well as music and recitals at The Platform.
Sunday night will feature some special centenary fireworks, followed by live music at ‘The Platform’.
Activities such as Proston Railway Park Run, social bowls at the Proston Bowls Club, social golf at the Proston Golf Club, friends of Reinke Scrub walking group will be available and local clubs will offer food service at specified times and locations as outlined in the program.
Anyone interested may pre-book centenary district schools bus tours which covers Proston, Kinleymore, Hivesville, Abbeywood, and Speedwell.
For more information visit: prostonheritage.org.au/book-centenary-events
