Tag Archives: society & culture
90 Years of “Royal’ for the RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force will mark 90 years since the title of ‘Royal’ was bestowed on 13 August 2011. Although the RAAF celebrates its birthday on 31 March 1921, on this date the service was officially known as the Australian Air Force. But the decision had already been made, in February, to ask the King to grant the ‘Royal’ title. The approval of ‘Royal’ appeared in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18 August 1921, but what was printed there was the order signed by the Governor-General five days earlier. This stipulated 13 August as the date from which the service was to be known as the Royal Australian Air Force. Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia collection www.naa.gov.au (click to enlarge). 90 Years of Air Force Defence Media Operations Continue reading
Missing Persons Week (July 31 – August 6), 2011
This year the theme of the week is “When someone goes missing, more than one person is lost,” highlighting the impact of a missing person on family, friends, colleagues and the community. Police are appealing for information on several cases including the following: Jayden Preston – Cambooya Jayden is 15-years-old and was living at Cambooya. Police believe that he has left the area and may have travelled to North Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast area. Jayden was reported missing in February of this year by his father and extensive inquiries are under way to locate him. Jayden is described as 165cm tall, collar length dark hair and has a heavy build. Matthew Rourke – Helidon Matthew Rourke, 27 has been reported missing by his mother. He was last seen asleep at his home at Helidon Spa at 10am on December 11 last year. He has left all personal belongings at the address including clothes, bank cards and medication. Matthew Rourke was last seen wearing dark blue shorts, a green t-shirt and thongs. It is believed that he may have travelled interstate as he has previously travelled frequently. As part of National Missing Persons Week, the Queensland Police Service is urging people who are missing to make contact with a friend, family member or police.. Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell, Officer in Charge of the State Crime Operations Command Missing Persons Unit says “Last financial year around 6000 people were reported missing in Queensland. While the Queensland Police Service’s recovery rate is 99.7%, there are approximately 260 people on the long term missing persons register (dating back to 1970). We rely heavily on information from the public to help locate missing people. However small the information may be, often the key to finding a missing person lies with the eyes and ears of our community and we encourage anyone with information to contact police,” While people go missing for a variety of reasons and some do not wish to be located. “If you have been reported missing and do not wish to be located, it is important you make contact with police. Once we have verified you are safe and well, your whereabouts will remain confidential,” Detective Senior Sergeant Powell said. Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day. Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service. Continue reading
Council Connections: Week 5, July 2011
Toowoomba Regional Council Connections The weekly program keeping you up to date with Toowoomba Regional Council’s facilities, activities and services. Council Connections with Darren Burton This week Darren talks about the next meetings of council, registering for Carnival’s “Garden Space”, new library hours, our Draft Regional Planning Scheme, Carnival’s program guide, family history research tips, scheduled burn offs, the mobile library and a reminder to dam users. Continue reading
Top Musicians at Free Concert In Gatton Friday 29th July
A free flood benefit concert featuring some of Australia’s best musicians, and local talent, will be staged at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre Gatton on Friday 29 July from 7.30pm. Song Trails LIVE is a special Queensland Music Festival event presented in partnership with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Energex and Queensland Rail. The Gatton Song Trails LIVE will include four artists; Clare Bowditch, Kev Carmody, Stephen Cummings (The Sports) and Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus). These performers are also conducting a series of free public song writing workshops in Murgon, Mundubbera, Gladstone and Maryborough as part of the Song Trails South tour. Donations to the Lockyer Valley Flood Appeal Fund will be collected on the night. To secure tickets, visit the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre in person or online at www.visitlockyer.com.au. Limit of four tickets per person. Queensland Music Festival is a biennial celebration of musical excellence. Working with communities throughout the state, QMF has a vision to transform lives through unforgettable musical experiences. From 15-31 July, the best of local, national and international talent will perform every conceivable style of music to Queenslanders in Brisbane and in 33 regional and remote centres. Continue reading
Council Connections: Week 4, July 2011
Toowoomba Regional Council Connections The weekly program keeping you up to date with Toowoomba Regional Council’s facilities, activities and services. Council Connections with Darren Burton This week Darren talks on the Draft Regional Planning Scheme, the Carnival program guide, National Tree Day celebrations, scheduled burn offs in the Pechey area, a family history workshop, Toowoomba Art Gallery submissions, the mobile library back on the road and a reminder to dam users. Continue reading
HMAS Toowoomba Leads Multi-National Exercise in Bab El Mandeb Strait
HMAS Toowoomba has successfully concluded command of a multi-national exercise with Turkish Navy vessels and French Mirage fighters, contributing to maritime security in the Bab El Mandeb Strait, in the Middle East. Exercise Scimitar Exocet was conducted between 22 and 23 July 2011 in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden and involved the Toowoomba, two Turkish Navy vessels and French Mirage fighter aircraft. Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba, Commander Andrew Quinn, said the exercise proved the Royal Australian Navy’s interoperability with the Turkish Navy against an airborne attack. “The exercise demonstrated the Combined Maritime Force’s resolve to maintain safe and unfettered access for shipping through a vital international strait,” Commander Quinn said. “The crew honed their skills just before kicking off the exercise by responding to a real world distress call from a vessel’s crew which thought it was under attack from pirates.” Toowoomba’s Seahawk helicopter was launched and, along with the ship, provided surveillance and escort support to the merchant traffic. On 23 July, Toowoomba was also afforded a unique opportunity when she engaged in advanced air warfare exercises with French Mirage fighter aircraft as part of Exercise Scimitar Exocet. “The Middle East can be a very demanding and volatile environment in which to operate,” Commander Quinn said. “To date, the crew of HMAS Toowoomba have risen to every challenge in a professional and committed fashion, maintaining Australia’s highly respected position as a coalition partner.” HMAS Toowoomba is presently deployed in support of Operation SLIPPER in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO), operating as part of the Combined Maritime Force (CMF). The CMF mission includes maritime security operations in the Gulf region, the maritime environment around the Horn of Africa, and counter piracy/terrorism operations in the Gulf of Aden. As the 26th rotation of an RAN vessel to the MEAO, Toowoomba has been on patrol supporting the CMF mission since 2 June 2011. from Defence Operations Continue reading
Christmas Comes Early to Pittsworth
Christmas_at_the_Village Continue reading
Put Forward an Unsung Hero
The Regional Achievement & Community Awards are calling for nominations in the following categories: The Salvation Army Employment Plus Business and Employment Award The Flight Centre Events and Tourism Award The Peabody Environment and Landcare Award The Clark Rubber Regional Service Award The Prime Super Community of the Year Award The Clark Rubber Regional Service Award is one of five Award categories through this year’s Queensland Regional Achievement & Community Awards. The Regional Service Award is looking to acknowledge individuals who are passionate in dedicating their lives for the needs of others. Whether they mentor the unemployed, run camps for underprivileged teenagers or simply spend their time offering friendship, hope and inspiration to the disadvantaged and those who need it most in their community. WIN Television and the Commonwealth Bank are proud to be offering a share in $10,000 or TV Advertising. The Queensland Regional Achievement and Community Awards are proudly supported by Sirromet Wines and Queensland Country Life. For more information on how you can nominate or to pick up nomination forms please contact the local awards office on 1300 735 445 or visit the website at www.awardsaustralia.com . Nominations Close – Friday 19th August 2011. Continue reading
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Ambassador Entrant Seeks Volunteers
‘Volunteering for all the right reasons… Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Young Ambassador Entrant Skye Michels is running a Crushed Car Competition and is seeking volunteers to help man a stall at Toowoomba Plaza for few hours each day begining 16th July to 30th July. Ms Michels said “We will be running a guess the make/model of the crushed car for a ‘Gold Coin’ donation with entry forms being placed in a barrel, and the first 3 correct entries will win a prize! I’m in need of 4 – 6 volunteers per day for a few hours to help me raise $4,000.00 for RACQ Care Flight.” Anyone who is interested can call Skye on 0467 906 992 Continue reading
