“Why are you celebrating Halloween? We’re not Americans.”

The same debate pops up every year around the same time as the Halloween decorations do. Someone else will chime in about the Gaelic origins of Halloween; that is, the festival originated in Scotland and Irish in pagan times at Samhain.

Samhain is the first day of November and a marker of the beginning of Winter. While earlier Gaelic people followed the Wheel of the Year around equinoxes and solstices, modern Scottish settlers wanted to celebrate at the same time as back home. With Christianity came “All Hallow’s Eve”, later shortened to “Halloween” (a Scots term).

So, no, Halloween in Bundy isn’t an imported fad from America. It arrived here with the Scottish settlers who helped build the town.

A second generation confectioner who took 38 years to realise her dream of owning her own chocolate shop, Melanice Jacobsen has never looked back. Affectionately nicknamed “Mellywonker” Cha Cha Chocolate truly does feel like walking into Willy Wonka’s whimsical and fantastical confectionery and chocolate factory. 

There’s no denying that we love our rum. And It’s during these unprecedented times, that we also acknowledge that Bundaberg Rum has never been more important… and we’re not just talking from a consumption point of view ?

Four charming characters you should meet in Bundaberg North Burnett.