Highfields FM 87.6

Community forum The USQ Community Capacity Building Project in conjunction with the Community Development and Facilities Branch, Toowoomba Regional Council invites you to a Public Lecture – Understanding Youth Suicide (with Garry King, Guidance Officer, Teacher and Youth Counsellor specialising in the area of suicide prevention and Garry Hansford, Community Support Worker, GP Connections). To be held on Tuesday 14 September 2010 at 6.45 pm at the QCWA Hall, 263 Margaret Street. Light refreshments (tea/coffee) will be provided after the event. Details available at: www.usq.edu.au/commcapacityproject/communityevents Please RSVP by Friday 10 September to Glen Postle 0407 462 331 or postle@usq.edu.au or Darryl Bates 4688 6758 or darryl.bates@toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au Book Spring Bluff train trips Tickets for return train rides to Spring Bluff during Carnival week are on sale at Toowoomba Railway Station, Railway St. Apart from one service departing the station at 9am on Sat, Sept 25 two services will run daily from Sun, Sept 19 to Fri, Sept 24. The first diesel train trip leaves Toowoomba at 9am and arrives at Spring Bluff at 9.35am before departing at 11am. Afternoon trains leave Toowoomba at 1pm (arriving at Spring Bluff at 1.35pm) and depart at 3pm. Tickets must be bought in person at Toowoomba Railway Station from 9am to 3.45pm weekdays. No phone bookings. Prices: $16.50 adults, $8.50 child 4-15, Under 4 free if not occupying seats. Enquiries to QR on 4631 3381. Gallery seeks 2011 exhibition ideas Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery is seeking fresh exhibition proposals from regional artists for the first half of 2011. Artists who live in the council area are welcome to submit proposals for exhibitions to be displayed in the Cam Robertson Gallery from January to July 2011. Applications must be lodged with the Gallery by Friday, October 1. For more information, please contact Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery on 4688 6652 or email art@toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au Exhibition papers the walls Contemporary art and interior design will come together in a short exhibition at the Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery from September 7 to 26. The touring exhibition of wallpapers titled The Wallpaper Project is a collaboration between artist Simon Mee, wallpaper printer William Wilding and a number of contemporary artists. A floor talk by Simon Mee will be held at the gallery on Thursday, September 9 at 9.30am. Gallery hours are 10am-4pm Tuesday to Saturday. For details, please call 4698 1687 or email crowsnestart@toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au Local History Library Displays Toowoomba’s Local History Library is hosting two significant displays during Sept and Oct – a photographic display of the Carnival of Flowers during the 1950s, including the queens, gardens and parades, and an exhibition of photographs and programmes marking Toowoomba Repertory Theatre’s celebration of 80 years of entertaining. Visit 476 Ruthven St (9.30am-1pm Tuesday to Saturday) or phone 4638 7766. Free plant vouchers Ratepayers in the TRC area receive two free plants per year via a voucher included with their rate notices. Half of TRC residents would have received vouchers in April and the remainder would have received theirs in the past week. Please see the back of the voucher for collection points and opening times to collect your plants. For more information phone 4688 6654. Immunisation clinic times Council’s Wednesday immunisation clinic hours will vary this month. The service will operate from 9am to noon on Sept 8 and 22 at 12 Little Street, Toowoomba. Regular Wednesday hours (9am to 1.30pm) will operate on Sept 15 and 29. The clinic also provides vaccination advice for children and adults. Call 4688 6835 weekdays between 8.45am and 5pm. Lodge event support proposals Applications are being sought for the Events Support Grant Program which closes on October 3, 2010. This council initiative aims to support groups planning major regional and community events. Further information about the program and application forms can be obtained from the Economic Development, Tourism & Events Branch on 4688 6966. Plant a tree in Cambooya Help plant trees in Cambooya’s Paterson Park in George St from 9.30am on Saturday, September 11. Council, Cambooya Landcare Assoc, Toowoomba Probation and Parole and Toyota are joining forces to provide tools and plants. All helpers can join a free sausage sizzle and a drink. Enquiries to John Hughes (Landcare 0417 303 612) or Kristie Jenkinson on 4688 6514. Sign on for Bushcapades Spring holiday activities will be staged in Toowoomba’s bushland parks from Tuesday, September 21 to Friday, October 1. Craft sessions cover paper making, pressing flowers, candle making, pottery and tips for organic gardening. Small fees apply and children under eight must be accompanied by an adult. Bookings are essential by calling 4688 6572 during office hours. Get in early Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival tickets, including the Heritage Building Society Live Concert Series (featuring Troy Cassar-Daley, the Hoodoo Gurus and Beatnix) are on pre-sale now at the Empire Theatre Box Office. Phone 1300 655 299 or visit www.empiretheatres.com.au Brush up on safe food handling Residents involved in catering at public functions during Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers can brush up on safe food handling tips at a free course on Thursday, September 9. The session runs from 9am-1pm, 2nd floor, 543 Ruthven St. Enquiries and bookings to 4688 6824. Rate notices Council’s rate notices have now been issued with payment due on September 21. Please check the back of your rate notice for the full range of payment options. Tombstone Tours Discover the region’s intriguing past on the 2010 Tombstone Tours of Toowoomba and Drayton Cemetery. Tours will run on Sunday, Sept 19 at 10am, on Wednesday, Sept 22 at 7pm and on Saturday, Sept 25 at 10am. Tickets cost $5 and must be pre-booked at the Local History Library, 476 Ruthven St (9.30am-1pm Tuesday to Saturday) or by phoning 4638 7766. Temporary closure Stephen St Qld Rail’s upgrade of Stephen St railway bridge from August 23 for approx 5 wks (weather permitting) will involve the temporary closure of Stephen St (between Duhig St and Fifth Ave). Detours will be in place. New 10-year Community Plan In late July, TRC endorsed the new community plan that sets out the vision, goals and outcomes the region’s community wants to see over the next 10 years. The Community Plan fulfils a legislative requirement of the Local Government Act 2009. Please log on to www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au and select Council Vision and Strategies to view the new Community Plan. Lodge request for Council service online Council is offering residents and ratepayers a further option when lodging a request for council services. Anyone wanting to submit a request for a specific council service can now do so online at any time of the day. Areas currently available for online lodgement are animal collection/nuisance, changes of address, overgrown allotments, parking meter faults or infringements, road and footpath maintenance requests, abandoned and nuisance vehicles, water meter issues and wheelie bin services. Explore Laurel Bank Park Grab your torch and be a part of the popular Twilight Tours of Laurel Bank Park in Herries St Toowoomba during the Carnival of Flowers. Running on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 20-22, the one-hour tours from 6.30pm and 7.30pm each evening will provide an insight into the park’s history and its many floral highlights. Gold coin donation. Bookings essential on 4688 6542.

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Toowoomba Regional Council News in Brief

Students and staff at The Glennie School for in Toowoomba have celebrated the official opening of their new hospitality training centre recently. Member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine said the new centre was a major asset for the school community. “The hospitality centre offers an excellent training facility for hospitality students,” Mr Shine said. “It has a commercial training kitchen containing a barista-style coffee machine, and an industrial oven, and the neighbouring classroom can double as a function room for school events. “The hospitality students are putting it to good use – they helped cater for the Glennie Foundation cocktail party and have prepared morning tea for the official opening.” The State Government contributed $250,000 in capital assistance funding to the project, adding to the $850,000 raised by the school. From left: Right Reverend Rob Nolan (Anglican Bishop West Region), Kerry Shine MP, Wendy Ashley-Cooper (Head of Glennie School). The Member for Toowoomba North represented the Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson at the opening. Mr Wilson said the Queensland Government was pleased to help support the school’s ongoing development. “Over the past five years, The Glennie School (an Anglican school for girls) has received more than $5.6 million in recurrent funding and $1.9 million in capital assistance from the State Government.” Further Information Phone: 4638 5755 or Email: toowoomba.north@parliament.qld.gov.au

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Glennie School’s New Hospitality Centre Officially Open

The third annual Leon Treadwell Memorial charity golf day in aid of the Oncology (Cancer Care) Unit at the Toowoomba Hospital will be staged at the City Golf Club on Friday 3 rd September. Leon was an avid golfer at City, representing the club in representative Pennant competition, before his untimely death at the young age of 32 due to an extremely rare cancer disease to his appendix. A schoolboy friend from Leon’s Charleville days, Kris Currie, contacted Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Peter Rookas and so far the two memorial days have been a huge success, raising in excess of $10,000. Kris said Leon was a great friend and he appreciated how well he was treated at the Oncology Unit at Toowoomba Hospital during his illness. “I wanted to do something to perpetuate Leon’s memory so what better than a golf day to help the cancer care unit, and especially at his favourite golf club”. Hospital Foundation CEO Peter Rookas was easy to convince to help organise the day. ‘I played golf with Leon and know his wife Leah and their two lovely girls. And I knew our staff at the Toowoomba Hospital cared for Leon and remember him fondly so it was a natural to get involved with the day.’ The event will be a 4-a-side Ambrose with a shotgun start at 11.30am with the entry cost just $30 player ($120 a team) and there will be a host of great trophies on offer. The Leon Treadwell Memorial shield will be presented to the team with the best nett on the day. Leah with daughters Emily (l) and Jade (r) and good friend Kris Currie who came up with the idea of the Memorial golf day…. (Leon’s widow, Leah and local identity Michael Betros (who lost his wife Jodie to cancer) found romance and love after both their tragic losses and have a little boy, LACHLAN JOEL BETROS  – The name Joel is derived from their two precious late spouses, Jodi and Leon).. It is a great story and both Leon & Jodie were cared for at Toowoomba Hospital….) For nominations and further information, contact Peter Rookas at 46166 166 or 0418  713 138.

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Memorial Golf Day to Aid Cancer Unit

There’ll be Bulls, Broncs, Barrels & Music at the annual Fossil Downs Charity Bush Rodeo Extravaganza, Fifteen Mile Road, Murphy’s Creek on Saturday 4th September…. It’s top class rodeo with NRA affiliated cowboys in action plus all the thrills of barrel racing. There will be poddie calf rides, children’s games, Cleo the Clown & face painting plus a host of country music entertainment. Some of the biggest & meanest bulls will be in action including ‘Pocket Rocket’, ‘Terra Firma’ & ‘Eden’ while the NRA Bucking Horse of the Year 2006 ‘Denim & Lace’ will be on show plus ‘Strawberry Roan’, ‘Turbulance’ and ‘Crazy Horse. This is the third year of the rodeo and nominations for this year’s event have more than doubled so there will be plenty of action and some of the best cowboys and cowgirls on show. Entertainment by renowned country artists including James Anderssen & the Outlaws and Dude Lovett & Kathy O’Sullivan will keep everybody entertained. Entry is Adults $15, Children $5, Concessions $10, Families $30 (unlimited kids under 16). Camping with breakfast is also available $10 per adult & $5 for children over 8 years. Contact Rosemary on 46305714 or Gaye on 0417-633051. BYO Swag & chairs. No eskys allowed. Proceeds from the day will aid the Renal & Cancer Units at the Toowoomba Hospital. Gates open at 1.00pm, music from 1.00pm to 3.00pm and the action gets underway at 3pm with the Open & Junior Barrel racing, at 4.30pm Local Poddie Calf rides and then rodeo action from 5.00pm. Just follow the signs to Murphy’s Creek and get into the action of Charity Rodeo….. For further information, Peter Rookas, Toowoomba Hospital Foundation Ph. 4616 6166

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Charity Rodeo to Support Toowoomba Renal & Cancer Units

Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) is seeking expressions of interest from home owners in the Toowoomba Regional Council area to participate in this year’s Sustainable House Day in September. “We are seeking local owners of sustainable houses willing to open their houses to the public between the hours of 10am and 4pm on Sustainable House Day, Sunday 12 September 2010” HOPE President Frank Ondrus says. “Houses need to display a variety of sustainable features, including energy and water efficient products and practises, sustainable building and design features, and can either be a new, renovated or retrofitted dwelling”. Mr. Ondrus said that this year’s Sustainable House Day, a national event presented by Solar Shop Australia and to be managed locally by HOPE, is expected to be the biggest yet as hundreds and thousands of Australians continue to embrace renewable energy, recycling and other practices to lesson our impact on the environment. “With homes scheduled to open around the country on Sunday 12 September, the event – in its ninth year – continues to grow in popularity as people seek more sustainable ways of living” Mr. Ondrus said. “Homes will be open to the public for free, and it is a fantastic opportunity for owners of sustainable homes to provide unbiased advice on working concepts, plans and ideas to people who want to make their homes more sustainable, but who are often confused about where to start”. Interested home owners wanting further information and to express their interest in participating in Sustainable House Day asked to contact Mr. Frank Ondrus on (07) 4639 2135 by the 30 th July 2010.

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Showcase your house on Sustainable House Day

Sexual assault, bar-room fights, use of illegal recreational drugs, binge drinking and underage drinking are all issues that teenagers may face but do they know how to react? This and many other questions will be answered at a special information evening, called `Putting Parents in the Picture’, to be held at Harristown High School on June 22 from 7pm. Hosted by Shannon Donaldson Province Lawyers, the Queensland Health School Based Youth Health Nurse Team, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation and Harristown High School, the information evening will help young people and parents become more responsible by being aware of the many pitfalls they may face. Oakey Youth Health Nurse Chris Coleborn said Putting Parents in the Picture was a unique. “This program uses a series of authentic but confronting movie scenarios to show how young people can become involved in life altering incidents as a result of poor decision making. The issues presented and discussed include assault, binge drinking and drug use. “The program was created by Toowoomba solicitors Adair Donaldson and Peter Shannon after years of seeing youth involved in life changing situations. Using their knowledge and experience Adair and Peter believe the program can make a difference in people’s lives. “Having worked as a youth health nurse for 3 years I believe this program will go a long way toward helping families communicate about youth issues. If this communication starts early at home and is combined with support at school we hope that we can reduce the amount of youth health issues in our community. “We need people to book so please contact Harristown State High School on 46368770 or Toowoomba State High School on 46371324,” she said. educational program that had been developed in regional Queensland to help communities deal with issues confronting young people. Submitted by Tony Rehn Rehn.AnthonyP@police.qld.gov.au

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Putting parents in the picture

On Sunday 6 th June the Downs Polo Club will be holding their annual Polo Tournament. This year not only will there be plenty of polo to be seen but there will also be raffles, kids games and activities, a BBQ and bar and much much more. Nicole All proceeds raised will be donated to The Kath Dickson Family Centre and The Toowoomba Hospice as part of this years Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Young Ambassador Program. It will be a great day for the whole family so bring everyone out including grandma, throw out a picnic rug and enjoy the game of Kings. For further information please contact Young Ambassador Entrant Nicole Whiting on 0439 212 52 

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Young Ambassador’s Fund-Raising Event

Chloe Sayer, an internationally recognized specialist in Latin American art and culture, will present a lecture for the Toowoomba Group of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS) on Tuesday, 18th May. Chloe, who hails from London, will speak on the ground-breaking art of  Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera . Kahlo and Rivera have iconic status in Mexico. Responding to the revolutionary fervor that swept Mexico in the early decades of the twentieth century, these two artists helped to shape the cultural identity of contemporary Mexico. Rivera’s vast murals adorn the walls of many public buildings in Mexico and combine social criticism with faith in human progress. Frida Kahlo’s art on the other hand is usually in a small format and often she is the subject of her paintings. This is a lecture not to be missed by people with an interest in key contributors to the development of international art. Chloe Sayer’s lecture will be given in the Glennie Room, The Glennie School, Herries Street, Toowoomba on Tuesday 18 May starting at 6.45 pm and will be followed by supper. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The cost is $20 for persons who are not members of ADFAS. For further information about Chloe Sayer’s lecture and about membership of ADFAS, contact the Secretary of ADFAS, Toowoomba on 07 4636 6164.

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A public lecture on the Golden Age of Mexican painting

The countdown to the 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival has begun with just days until the annual celebration of local food, arts and culture kicks off on Sunday 16 th May. The quiet village of just 500 residents will swell to more than 4,000 as visitors from all over South East Queensland converge on Hampton’s Chapman Park to enjoy a day out in the high country. Foodies are well catered for at this year’s Festival. Acclaimed chefs Matt Golinski and Alastair McLeod will showcase the district’s renowned produce in a series of lively cooking demonstrations, while a diverse array of local restaurants, food producers and wineries will offer everything from shiraz to sourdough. The concept of Slow Food will mark a new direction for the Festival. The cooking demonstrations are always popular “Our featured chef Matt Golinski has had a long involvement with the Slow Food movement,” said food co-ordinator Rosemary Jones. “We’re excited about the possibility of launching a Slow Food convivium on the Darling Downs and encourage Festival goers to get involved.” Lovers of fine art will find a range of interesting works exhibited in the Art Marquee, all created by artists living within 50km of Hampton. Sculpture, painting, and photography will all be on display, and a series of demonstrations will be held around the theme “soft textiles”. “The Hampton Festival is an important launching pad for young and emerging artists,” said art co-ordinator Sue Oliver. “We’re proud of our local talent, and want to do everything possible to foster their development.” To this end, the Hampton Art Exhibition is again offering a substantial cash prize, and works will be available for purchase throughout the day. But what would a festival be without music. Jazz singer Grace Knight is this year’s headline act. Grace Knight Tickets for the Saturday concert, “An Evening with Grace Knight”, have sold out but she will also be performing at Sunday’s main event.  Knight will be supported by a mix of great musicians including Hopney Moffet, the Jimmy Watts Band and locals the Prettiest Girl in the County and Pretty Ugly, and they can all be seen for the general admission price. The 2010 Hampton Festival promises to be a brilliant day out in a wonderful country setting. Gates open at 9.30am and entry is $10 (under 12’s free). A free bus service will run from Toowoomba and Highfields to Chapman Park courtesy of Bus Queensland Toowoomba.  For times and lots of other information check out the Festival website, www.hamptonfestival.com Kerri Seccombe Marketing & Publicity Hampton Food & Arts Festival .

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Countdown is on to 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival

State Member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine is encouraging Queenslanders to celebrate International Guide Dog Day on Wednesday 28 April.  Mr Shine said Guide Dogs Queensland, which turns 50 this year, was a local icon worthy of all Queenslanders’ support. “The guide dogs trained by Guide Dogs Queensland make an enormous difference to the quality of life of people with a sight disability. “These dogs help thousands of vision-impaired Queenslanders to remain active in their communities and live independently.” “The Bligh Government recognises the great job Guide Dogs Queensland has done over five decades, and look forward to working with them for the next five decades.” Meg Winterford and Kerry Shine pictured with guide dog Ivy Mr Shine went on to say  the Bligh Government was committed to stamping out discrimination against people who rely on guide dogs. “Tough new penalties came into force last year for anyone refusing service to people with a disability because they have a guide dog,” he said. “These include fines of up to $10,000 for individuals, and up to $50,000 for businesses that don’t do the right thing. We want to send out a very clear message that discrimination against people with guide dogs is not on and anyone who refuses service to people with a guide dog will face the full force of the law”. Further Information: Phone: 4638 5755  Fax: 4638 4056  Email: toowoomba.north@parliament.qld.gov.au

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International Guide Dog Day