By Jenel Hunt
The morning had it all: The chilliest weather a winter aficionado could ask for, a snow globe of gigantic proportions, national TV coverage and even a fire-eating steel dragon.
Friday’s Today Show had seven crosses to weatherman Tim Davies, who was wrapped up against the cold at Stanthorpe’s Quart Pot Creek and talking up a snowstorm with locals from Stanthorpe and Warwick.
The event was held on the bank of Quart Pot Creek near the Big Thermometer – of course! – which started out around -3.7 and gradually climbed into slightly warmer territory to chase away the frost, fog and frigid air.
The prize for the most colour on the day would have to go to the ladies promoting Jumpers and Jazz in July with their vibrant knits down near the creek. They had to set up near some trees so they could yarnbomb the trunks. At least the trees were warm! Stanthorpe really turned on the weather, with frost on the ground and a hovering fog that gradually burned off to expose a beautiful blue sky.
The fire-eating dragon is actually a giant fire pit and one of the attractions for the Killarney bonfire night, which will be held on 22 July at the Killarney Showgrounds as part of Jumpers and Jazz. Scouts toasted (and sometimes slightly blackened) marshmallows around a fire pit, there was mulled wine to sip, and a chance to make the acquaintance of Marlay, the Snowflakes in Stanthorpe mascot.
A penguin waddled around too, but as yet the name is a closely guarded secret. Maybe it’s something a bit out of left field, like Chill. Or Freeze. We’ll just have to wait to find out, because apparently there’s a competition heating up and one lucky local school student will have the honour of choosing the name.
Marketer for both festivals, Teilah Mckelvey from Skye Consultancy Studio said it was thanks to the collaboration between Snowflakes and JJJ along with Southern Country Queensland Tourism and Tourism Queensland, that the great morning had been possible.
Popular local duo Nine Year Sister flew the flag for contemporary folk music and Warwick poet and councillor Marco Gliori had a rhyme ready for the occasion.
Stanthorpe is already snowballing towards Snowflakes in Stanthorpe which will happen downtown on Friday 30 June then at the Stanthorpe Snowgrounds on 1 and 2 July.
Jumpers and Jazz will bring foodie delights, smokin’ jazz music and yarnbombing to Warwick from 20 to 30 July.
