The Cherbourg and South Burnett councils have at last placed a set of eight hand-painted ‘reconciliation benches’ throughout the region in an attempt to foster conversations between locals.
South Burnett council staff placed the yarning seats in pre-selected spots throughout the communities of Proston, Murgon, Wondai, Kingaroy, Nanango and Blackbutt on Friday, 28 November.
The South Burnett roll-out of the benches followed their 26 August unveiling at the Cherbourg Ration Shed Museum – which also received one of the seats – meaning their intended purpose of serving as a conversation starter can now begin in earnest.
The history of the reconciliation chairs goes back to Murgon in 2024, when Indigenous businessowner Tyrone Murray witnessed a public bench in front of his Lamb Street barbershop being removed that he said was instrumental in fostering talks among his clients and the greater community.
Mr Murray petitioned Cherbourg’s council for help in sourcing a replacement, which sparked talks between the town’s mayor Bruce Simpson and his South Burnett counterpart Kathy Duff. The two councils were successful in obtaining a joint grant to commission the seats, dedicating them to the spirit of reconciliation.
The benches made at the Cherbourg Joinery each feature a unique piece of art painted by local man Maurice Mickelo. Designs include a porcupine eating ants, a bunya tree with its nuts, a carpet python and other animals native to the Burnett – a fact which spurred on the region’s councillors to ‘claim’ the benches whose artworks best represented their divisions.
“It was great to see the councillors discussing together the best places for the chairs as each one has its own unique painting,” said South Burnett Regional Council mayor Kathy Duff.
“The one with the ants has been deliberately placed in Kingaroy, the home of the ‘Red Ants’ footy team, and the one with the Bunyas is in Councillor Linda Little’s area that takes in the Bunya Mountains – that is a special place for both Cherbourg and the South Burnett.”
Alongside QR codes for the Cherbourg and South Burnett council websites the benches also feature Cherbourg’s motto of ‘Many Tribes, One Community’.
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council mayor Bruce Simpson said the seats should serve to inspire Burnett locals – whether they are Indigenous or not – to sit down and share their stories with one another.
“[T]hese chairs stand not just as symbols across the South Burnett, but as reminders of unity, forgiveness, equity, and the social change we are committed to,” he said.
“They call us to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, in the true spirit of reconciliation.”
Locations for the Reconciliation Benches are as follows:
• Cherbourg – Ration Shed Museum, near the Pottery Hut
• Murgon – QE II Park below the toilet block
• Proston – On the footpath outside the Proston Hall
• Wondai – Back patio of the Wondai Regional Art Gallery
• Kingaroy – O’Neill Square below the P and C building
• Kingaroy – Glendon Street shared zone (southern end)
• Nanango – Ringsfield House
• Blackbutt – Next to the skate park
Wakka Wakka words of the week:
giam, n. – talk, word, language, voice
janginge, v. – talk to one another
