QRI Lifestyles general manager Rakesh Shankar celebrating the 50th anniversary of Coppabella. Picture: Heidi Petith

Trevor Jarrett with daughter Emily Jarrett, 6, both of Hay Point, enjoying the free dodgem cars at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Kym Scammels with son Luke Scammels, 13, both from Walkerston, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

QRI groundsman Noel Harman, with Jazmen Harman, 14, both of Sarina, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Kayne Roberts and Darnell Woodrow, both of South Mackay, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Nicole Mitchell, of Coppabella, Amanda van Tienhoven, of Seaforth via Coppabella, Joy-dean Mitchell, of Coppabella, and Kirsty Randell, of Coppabella, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jack Goldsworth, 13, of Moranbah at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Former Coppabella train driver, Bill O'Connor, now of Sarina, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Rebecca Harris with Michelle Gardner, both of Sarina, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Pop Bill O'Connor with daughter Kathleen Stirling and grandchildren Levi Stirling, 7, Indian Stirling, 9, and Dakota Stirling, 5, all of Sarina, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Andrew Wells with wife Shannon Wells and their daughter Kadee Wells, 7, all of Sarina, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Tracy Lockie of Rockhampton, Christine Roberts, of Mackay, and Leonie Turner, of Walkerston, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

A memory displayed at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School, from when Queensland Rail owned the mining town. Picture: Heidi Petith

A flyer from the 25th anniversary of Coppabella mixed in with photographs and other memories at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Shalya Gascoyne, 9, of Mackay with cousin Emily Jarrett, 6, of Hay Point at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Former Coppabella Queensland Ambulance Service first responder Kerryne Weir with QAS Nebo first responders Sharon Ward and Joy Cooper at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Past and present students of Coppabella State School at the 40th anniversary celebrations. Picture: HeidI Petith

Ann McLeod, Amanda McLeod and Noel McLeod, all of Bloomsbury at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Mr McLeod was instrumental in the opening of the school. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella State School students Jacob Cantrill, Jamimah Smallwood, Keeley Ball, Finn Walterse, Addalyne Newman, Hayden Cantrill, Silas Rich and Michael Smallwood at the 40th birthday celebrations of the Isaac region school. Picture: Heidi Petith

Laura Van Tienhoven, 8, of Seaforth and sister Amy Van Tienhoven, 10, with Dallas Paine, 5, and Amelia Paine, 10, of Nebo at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jaxon Carroll, of Moranbah, with Josie-lee Marsen-Gardner of Sarina at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Leonie Turner, of Walkerston, Betty Pye (nee Turner), of Glenella, and Jane Neilson, of Anakie at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Renae Womal with daughter Tayah Womal, both of Moranbah, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Anna Ohl and Cooper Ohl, 11, of Townsville with Tracey Lockie, of Rockhampton (centre) at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella State School teacher aide Marylou Newman with daughter and Year 6 student Addalyne Newman and fellow Year 6 student Jacob Cantrill at the 40th birthday celebrations of the Isaac region school. Picture: Heidi Petith

QRI Lifestyle state management committee members Gary Dutton and Glen Duncan with QRI Services director Ken Cavanough at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Joe Ahern with wife Anne Ahern, both of Dysart, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Seth O'Connor, 10, Tom O'Connor, Nate Muscat, 11, and Levi Stirling, 7, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Mr O'Connor spent the first 16 years of his lie in the Isaac region town. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jeanne Ball, of Coppabella, with former Coppabella State School principal Kate Tanninan, of Chelona, at the 40th birthday celebrations of the Isaac region school. Picture: Heidi Petith

South Mackay mum Kylie Marsh with her children Ellie Marsh, 9, Braxton Marsh, 8, and Adelle, 4, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Ms Marsh's eldest children started their schooling at the Bowen Basin school. Heidi Petith

Pauline Neilson with daughter Lauren Neilson, both of Coppabella, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Moranbah East State School students Stevie Reichelt, 7, and Gabbi Reichelt, 10, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Wyatt Ball, 1, of Coppabella, with aunt Nikki Baggow, of Homebush at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Let's Just Face It's Jess Reichelt, of Moranbah, painting a design on Gemma Petith, 6, of North Mackay, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Linda Squire, of Moranbah, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jason Riley, Guy Ball, and Shawn Womal, all of Coppabella, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Moranbah East State School teacher Anthea Driscoll with Jaxon Carroll, of Moranbah, at the 40th birthday celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella State School Year 6 student Finn Walters with Mercy College Year 8 student, and former Coppabella student, Ava Van Scherpenseel at the 40th anniversary celebrations of Coppabella State School. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella State School students, Year 4 Hayden Cantrill, Year 6 Addalyne Newman and Year 6 Jacob Cantrill, at the 40th anniversary celebrations of the school. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella State School principal Thomas Corbett at the 40th birthday celebrations of the Bowen Basin school. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jodi Kratzmann and Gina Kratzmann, both of Coppabella, with Sarah Brookman and Marley Brookman, 3, of Moranbah, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Jouls Papp, of Victoria, with Megan Topham, of Sunshine Coast, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Coppabella township. Picture: Heidi Petith

Coppabella train driver Shawn Womal with Coppabella chef Brendon Clark at the town's 50th anniversary celebrations. Mr Clark said it was a 'culture shock' to move to the mining town from Canberra. Picture: Heidi Petith

Rosalea Walters with husband Alan Walters, both of Home Hill, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Coppabella. Picture: Heidi Petith

Mitchell Ohl, of Townsville, with Chris Rhodes, of Gladstone celebrating the 50th anniversary of Coppabella. Mr Ohl was born in the Bowen Basin town whereas Ms Rhodes raised two kids there. Picture: Heidi Petith