Locals will dress their best to commemorate 150 years since the first town blocks were auctioned in Beaudesert.
Volunteers including Tim Andrews and Lani Deeran, pictured, are among those organising the August 3 B150 Beaudesert Sesquicentennial Gala Dinner.
It comes after a highly successful B150 Family Fun Day on July 20.
A sense of belonging
Beaudesert is synonymous with ‘home’.
That is the word from local Lani Deeran, who a driving force behind B150 Beaudesert Sesquicentennial celebrations.
She and fellow volunteer committee members are rallying people together for a night of celebrations and reminiscing at the B150 Gala Dinner at 6pm on August 3 at The Centre.
Marking 150 years
The year 2024 marks 150 years since the first town blocks were sold in Beaudesert, in 1874.
Since before that time, and to this day, countless people have felt at deep and lasting connection to Beaudesert – a place historians say has possibly never been declared a town.
According to Beaudesert Historical Museum one of Beaudesert’s earliest businessmen in the late 1800s, Michael Enright, maintained that though he lived in Beaudesert, the land was ‘country lands’, never having been proclaimed a town.
Beaudesert equals home
Town status aside, the place evokes a deep sense of belonging.
Lani said people made Beaudesert special.
“I think we’re a very friendly, sharing, caring community,” she said.
“I’ve come back here after 46 years. Why do you come back? My husband Paul was born and bred here but I came as a nine-year-old and was one of the inaugural students at the high school. We left when we got married in 1971, then we eventually returned.
“It’s always been home. I read a lot of things on Mark McCabe’s Facebook group, ‘Beaudesert Town & Surrounds – History Matters’ and a lot of people call it ‘home’ even if they don’t live here now.
“I loved growing up here. It was that real country atmosphere where you could walk everywhere, you met up with your friends.”
A night to remember
Elegance and nostalgia will be the order of the evening at the B150 Gala.
Historic press clippings will be on tables as conversation starters and there will be photo opportunities in front of a backdrop depicting Beaudesert Historical Museum’s slab hut.
Local act Rick and Linda Wilson will provide live music and there will be opportunities to get up and boogie on the dance floor (no need to know any of the traditional hall dances).
The MC will be Peter Sullivan, there will be a silent charity auction for Drought Angels, guests will dine on a two-course alternate drop menu and there will be a cash bar.
Most of all, it will be a night for conversation and celebration.
B150 Acting Chair Tim Andrews is active in the community through volunteering and work but also feels a thread of historic connection through his great grandfather, who used to travel from Cleveland to Beaudesert to buy his hats.
Tim and Lani encouraged locals to come along and enjoy the night.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate our sense of community, coming together to mark the sesquicentennial of Beaudesert,” said Tim.
“Hopefully it’ll be a night of reminiscing, sharing stories about when we grew up in Beaudesert, our memories,” said Lani.
Tickets cost $75 and are available at https://creativescenicrim.com/event/28061721-a/b150-gala-dinner
