The Ninth annual Clermont Talent Contest is on again and from 29 - 30 October you can enjoy music from many new artists hoping to be the recipient of one of the great prizes awarded. The overall open winner of the festival will receive $1000.00 whilst the Junior & Juvenile winners will receive $250.00 each. Prize money for each section is 1st $100.00 2nd $60.00 3rd $40.00.

As befits the grain and cattle capital of the region, Clermont in Queensland sits on gentle slopes above Sandy Creek and Hoods Lagoon. The town, about 800 km. north of Brisbane, traces its history to the early-1800's, but it was not until 1861 that it shot to prominence when gold was discovered by some shepherds in Hoods Lagoon. Prospectors flocked to Clermont and even more followed when copper was found in the Next year. This led to the establishment of Copperfield, the first copper mine in Queensland. Within three years, there were more than 3,500 people in the area. But the gold and copper were soon exhausted and the economic activity began to wane. However, enough remained so that together with coal, sheep and beef the town survived the downturn. About 3 km. from the town's center, a museum houses relics from the gold rush, coal mining machines from that era and a pioneer's hut made from slab timber. Prospecting, or “fossicking” for gold is still a favorite activity of visitors to Clermont and fossicking kits are sold at the Clermont Caravan Park. Other attractions in the town are the Clermont Club, one of the earliest gentlemen's country clubs in Queensland, and the St. Mary's Roman Catholic church from 1890, a survivor of the devastating floods in Clermont's history.

The following decades were turbulent times for Clermont. In the 1880's, about 4,000 Chinese were working the gold and copper mines triggering race riots which resulted in the Chinese being removed from the fields. Then, several years later, about 400 soldiers had to be brought in to separate striking shearers and non-union labor.

Summer storms, Sandy Creek and Hoods Lagoon all combined to put Clermont under constant threat from floods. Fifteen people died during a major flood in 1870. Five more floods followed until 1916 when the town's worst flood in history swept away houses, sent people clambering up trees to escape the rushing waters and drowned 65 persons. To remind everyone of this catastrophe, a large cement tree was erected on the old Clermont's main street. The tree monument has a white mark on the upper part of the trunk to show the height of the flood waters. After that, the townspeople decided to move the town to a more elevated area where it now stands.

Today, Clermont is the home of the Blair Athol Mine, where modern day mining operations can be observed. The mine is due to be replaced by Rio Tinto with a $750 million facility. When the new mine reaches its full operational capacity in 2013, Clermont will become the country's largest thermal coal producer with more than 12 million tons of coal a year.

Clermont stages a yearly country music talent contest, In 2011, the 9th contest, which is for amateurs only, will be held on October 29 – 30 at the Clermont Civic Center. There will be a walk up night on Friday, October 28 at the Clermont Hotel Motel, nicknamed the Hoey Moey. On Sunday, a Poets' breakfast will be held at the same location.

Admission is $15.00 for a weekend pass or $10.00 daily.

Food and drinks will be available all weekend.

Nominations close on Friday, 21 October 2011, and nomination packs can be obtained from:

Secretary, Vicki Holmes

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