Ships of the desert head to region

IF YOU look at the Chinese calendar it will tell you 2013 is the year of the snake but it looks like, for South Burnett, it will be the year of the camel.

YEAR OF THE CAMEL: A new load of camels young and old were delivered to Deb Corbett last week for the future Kingaroy camel dairy farm. Photo: Jordan Philp / The South Burnet Times. Picture: Jordan Philp

IF YOU look at the Chinese calendar it will tell you 2013 is the year of the snake but it looks like, for South Burnett, it will be the year of the camel.

Locals and visitors will see a lot more of the humpbacked animals when the new camel dairy farm opens on the D'Aguilar Hwy, outside Kingaroy in the first half of 2013.

Deb Corbett, who will be opening and operating the camel dairy farm, said the milk produced from camels would benefit locals.

"Once people see how amazing the creams, oils, milk and meat that can be made from camels are, they will get hooked," she said.

"The creams made from the camel milk are great for burns, eczema, acne and we found out that it's actually anti-bacterial."

Australian Camel Industry Association chairperson Lauren Brisbane said the industry was increasing in size as more people saw the benefits of camels and their products.

"The amount that can be utilised from the camel really is amazing," she said.

With a new camel farm on the D'Aguilar Hwy, beside Pottique and just on the outskirts of Kingaroy, Mrs Corbett believed tourism would get a boost.

"I think it's going to be absolutely awesome for tourism, there will be plenty of overseas visitors coming through here and it will definitely add more diversity to tourism in the area."

Mrs Brisbane agreed the camel dairy farm would help with tourism in the region.

"It will definitely be another notch in the South Burnett tourism trail and create a lot of industry," she said.

The demand for camel products has had Deborah answering calls from all around Australia and also shipping her products overseas.

"It started out as a bit of a hobby but I get calls and emails every day," she said.

"There is a lot of demand down in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and over in America for the milk powder and creams we make from the milk," said Mrs Corbett.

The dairy farm will open next year and will have a store open to the public with creams, soaps, cosmetics, meat and milk available for purchase.

"Kids will even get a chance to get up close and personal with the camels," she said.

For a fun day for the entire family and to learn more about the benefits of camel milk and the camels' other by-products, head to the Camel Field Day this Saturday in Blackbutt from 6.30am-5pm.

You can register by contacting Lauren Brisbane on 0438777948.

Originally published as Ships of the desert head to region