South Burnett Who's Who
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Alice Springs Cinema
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Distinguished and Famous people from South Burnett
🏏 Eddie Gilbert
Eddie Gilbert developed his cricket at Barambah, later named Cherbourg, after being separated from his parents as an infant. Selected for Queensland in 1930, the fast bowler became especially famous for dismissing Don Bradman for a duck at the Gabba in 1931. His ability did not protect him from racism or the restrictions imposed on Aboriginal reserve residents. Despite being among the country's outstanding fast bowlers, he never represented Australia. His South Burnett story combines sporting brilliance with the conditions in which he had to pursue it. The wicket of Bradman is memorable; the barriers surrounding the rest of his career are just as important to understanding his life.
📚 Aunty Ruth Hegarty
Aunty Ruth Hegarty moved with her family to Cherbourg in 1930, then was separated from her mother and placed in the settlement's dormitory system. Her memoir Is That You, Ruthie? brought those experiences to a wider readership and won the 1998 David Unaipon Award. Bittersweet Journey continued the story into marriage, motherhood and advocacy. She and Joe Hegarty raised eight children at Cherbourg before the family left in 1966. Her later community work included campaigning over stolen wages and recognition for the women who shared the dormitories. The books preserve lived South Burnett history through a participant's voice, alongside the public records of the system that controlled her childhood.
🏛️ Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen came to Australia from New Zealand as a small child and grew up on the family farm near Kingaroy. Farming, harvesting and earthmoving preceded his political career, which included Kingaroy Shire Council, state Parliament and the premiership of Queensland from 1968 to 1987. His home at Bethany kept him closely associated with the South Burnett. Party division ended his premiership; the Fitzgerald Inquiry subsequently led to charges against several former ministers. Bjelke-Petersen himself faced a perjury trial, but the jury reached no verdict and the charge was withdrawn. He died at Kingaroy in 2005, leaving a deeply contested political legacy.
