Marburg’s Black Snake Creek Festival has celebrated its 20th year, while plans are also progressing to improve the Rosewood war memorial used for some of the community’s most significant commemorative services.
Ipswich Division 4 Councillor Jim Madden highlighted both projects during his latest Council update on West Bremer Radio, while also encouraging residents to take advantage of regular opportunities to meet their local councillors.
Black Snake Creek marks milestone
Cr Madden described the annual Black Snake Creek Festival, held at Marburg on September 19, as an institution for the local community.
The 2026 event marked the festival’s 20th year, with Cr Madden and fellow Division 4 Councillor David Martin among those operating stalls on the day.
“It was wonderful,” Cr Madden said.
“This was the 20th year of the festival, Damien, and it’s an institution in the Marburg area.”
Among the attractions were the festival’s art awards, including the Hangers Award, where those involved in hanging the exhibition select their favourite work.
Cr Madden said this year’s Hangers Award was won by Lyn Kincaid.
Fine weather helped bring the community out for the milestone event, with Cr Madden praising the people involved in delivering another successful festival.
Ipswich City Council provided $2,806.35 in financial support towards the event.
Cr Madden said the festival was also an example of how Council funding could assist community organisations to deliver local events and encouraged other groups with ideas to investigate available grants.
“I’d encourage any community group that wants to put on an event similar to the Black Snake Creek Festival, maybe even a lower-level one, to consider applying for Council community funding,” he said.
Rosewood RSL looks to improve memorial
The Rosewood RSL Sub-Branch is meanwhile looking to improve the war memorial at Anzac Park in Rosewood.
Cr Madden clarified that Council had not been asked to directly fund the major project at this stage. Instead, the RSL Sub-Branch required Council’s permission to pursue an external grant for improvements to the memorial.
The memorial, located in front of the Rosewood Memorial Hall, is used for major commemorations including Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans Day.
Cr Madden said those events regularly attracted strong community participation, particularly Rosewood’s Anzac Day march through the town.
“They want to improve the existing memorial to make it more inclusive,” he said.
The RSL’s concept includes creating a more clearly defined area around the memorial and installing panels behind it.
Cr Madden said the proximity of a swimming pool and playground was among the considerations, with the proposed works designed to create a more distinct and appropriate commemorative space.
Council will continue working with the Rosewood RSL Sub-Branch as the design develops.
“They have our 100 per cent support,” Cr Madden said.
While smaller Council grants could potentially assist aspects of the project, Cr Madden said the scale of the proposed improvements meant a larger external grant would be required.
Councillors taking their offices into the community
Cr Madden also used his weekly update to remind residents that Division 4’s community catch-ups are only one of several ways people can speak directly with their councillors.
He said feedback from one resident had suggested many advertised community catch-ups occurred during normal working hours.
However, Cr Madden said he and Cr Martin also attended weekend and evening events across Division 4 throughout the year.
“We have community catch-ups or mobile offices every week, or sometimes twice a week,” he said.
Those opportunities include a stall at the monthly Rosewood markets, the upcoming native plant sale at Rosewood and appearances at community events including local shows and the Marburg Garden Expo.
Cr Madden and Cr Martin also attend evening meetings of organisations including the Karalee Community Association, Marburg Residents Association, Western Alliance and Pine Mountain Progress Association.
“We look for every opportunity to get out and about, whether it’s in the evenings or during the day,” Cr Madden said.
The next community catch-up will be held at Chapters Bookstore at Karalee from 8am to 10am on Friday.
Residents can keep track of upcoming locations through the councillors’ social media pages and Ipswich City Council channels.
Pets invited for special blessing
For residents looking for something a little different over the long weekend, animals will take centre stage at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Ipswich.
A Blessing of the Animals will be held at the church in Elizabeth Street from 9am on Saturday, with pet owners invited to bring their animals along.
Cr Madden said the tradition reflected the importance of animals to St Francis.
Father Bernie Thomas will conduct the blessing, with cats, dogs and other suitable pets welcome.
“Anyone’s welcome to come along and have their animals blessed,” Cr Madden said.
While the radio interview jokingly contemplated where the line might be drawn with larger animals such as horses, Cr Madden said responsible pet owners were welcome to bring their animals along for the occasion.
With the Black Snake Creek Festival celebrating two decades, plans developing for Rosewood’s memorial and a busy calendar of community events continuing across Division 4, Cr Madden encouraged residents to stay connected and take advantage of opportunities to speak directly with their local councillors.
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