The recreation ground at Mungallala has probably never seen anything quite like Saturday night's explosion of music, food, kids' entertainment.
Nor did the organisers expect over 200 people to flock to the event organised to bring some welcome drought relief to the area.
"The event was an astounding success," Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland event coordinator Sharon Purcell said. "We were hoping for 120 people but we got 217, which was absolutely sensational."
The idea for the evening had its germination in 2019, when Mungallala was identified as one of the RFCSSQ regions that had been severely impacted by prolonged drought.
CEO Jenny Whip said COVID-19 meant plans were put on hold but then Ms Purcell suggested doing something completely different as a way of providing information on financial counselling services and bringing locals together to enjoy themselves.
"We want to give a huge shout out to the Maranoa Regional Council and Rotary for their financial support that ensured the event's success," she said.
"Drought has a long term financial impact on all primary producers and the small businesses in surrounding towns.
"It's our job to support those people and businesses as they face those financial challenges, identify responses and work through the recovery phase.
"We run events throughout southern Queensland through allocated funding to promote government services and programs like ours that make a real difference to people's financial capacity."
Rotary district governor Patrice Robinson was visiting from Woombye for the evening and said they knew money and help was still needed.
"There's a perception in some areas that it's rained and all is good but we know that's not the case," she said.
"We're going round our clubs and the interest is still there, it won't take much (to raise more funds).
"It's still the highest priority on the agenda for our district, which is unfortunate."
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The event in the 30-person town included entertainment by The Voice's Roma contestant, Maddy Thomas, a free barbecue and a movie for children on a big screen, and saw the local hotel shut mid-afternoon in a show of community support.
Maranoa mayor Tyson Golder said while ongoing drought wasn't a good thing, one of the great things was that there was plenty of support at the event and from the service.
"I urge you to talk to the rural financial counsellors and if they can't help you they'll point you in the right direction," he said.
The RFCSSQ offers free, impartial, confidential financial support that includes analysing financial statements, preparing farm business plans, assisting with lender negotiations and access to government support programs including the Farm Household Allowance, QRIDA grants and loans, Regional Investment Corporation concessional loans and the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.
Cr Golder also congratulated local event coordinators, sawmill operator John Shelswell and Jacqui Beale, thanking Mr Shelswell for all he did as the community's largest employer.
Mungallala's big yellow Rural Fire Brigade truck was on standby for the evening's firework show supported by Gary and Sandra Swanson from Mr Fireworks International, which lit up the sky for miles around for 10 minutes.
Thankfully the fire truck volunteers had no work to do afterwards.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
