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A ‘Change’ For Good For Dalby

A ‘change’ for good came to Dalby on 3rd June with recycling company, Return-It partnering with Lifeline to launch a new depot as part of Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme.

Locals will now be able to conveniently recycle their eligible containers, such as beer bottles, soft drink cans and plastic containers, while helping the environment and community, by taking them to the new depot at 31 Nicholson St, Dalby.

The depot will be operated by Lifeline and is the 16th Return-It depot to open in Queensland since the scheme launched in November 2018. The new depot allows customers the option to receive a cash refund on the spot.  Alternatively, they can continue to use the Lifeline’s Return-It Express site at 25 New Street, and have their refunds transferred to their bank account using their Containers for Change

Re.Group Managing Director, David Singh said it was an exciting time for Queenslanders to take ownership of recycling while supporting their local community. “Bringing Return-It to Queensland has given people a chance to get back on track with their recycling, putting the billions of containers used across the state each year into the right place, to be recycled, rather than ending up in landfill or waterways,” Mr Singh said.  “Our Dalby depot is a cash depot, so during operating hours, customers will be offered cash in-hand refunds.”

The new depots being launched across Queensland are also enhancing local communities through employment opportunities for locals. “Return-It has already brought more than 100 jobs to Queensland. We are committed to developing employment and training opportunities in regional Queensland for people who have been out of the workforce for a long time, as well as for those with a disability,” Mr Singh said.

“We intend to encourage thoughtfulness in the community, which really plays to the scheme’s name ‘Containers for Change’. Return-It benefits the customer, the community and the environment and we can’t wait to see how the addition of this depot is successful in this vibrant community.”

The CEO of COEX †the not-for-profit organisation which runs the Containers for Change scheme †welcomes the new depot, saying it was one of a number coming on-line around the state.

“It’s great to see a depot opening to service this area as the network of container refund points continues to grow,” Ken Noye said.

“At the time the scheme launched on 1 November last year, we had more than 230 container refund points in Queensland,” he said. “That has now grown to 275, and our goal is to have 307 by 1 November this year.”

For more information visit https://www.returnit.com.au, or to find out more about the scheme, go to www.containersforchange.com.au
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ABOUT: Return-It is part of Re.Group, an Australian company focused on providing high quality services for recycling and the recovery of resources from materials that society discards. With its highly credentialed team, Re.Group is supporting Australian communities to move towards a waste-free society.



ABOUT:
Return-It is part of Re.Group, an Australian company focused on providing high quality services for recycling and the recovery of resources from materials that society discards. With its highly credentialed team, Re.Group is supporting Australian communities to move towards a waste-free society.

Toowoomba Model Trains & Hobby Expo

The Toowoomba Model Railway Club Inc are holding their Annual Toowoomba Model Train Exhibition on Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd June.

Besides model railway layouts, the Train and Hobby Expo will also feature the Toowoomba Scale Modellers showing their masterful creations, “K-Nex Mania”, an innovative model construction system, Radio Control Cars in action, and a variety of other hobbies.

Children are catered for with a Kids Korner, with activities for little ones including a Colouring Competition with prizes, Face Painting and Balloons by “Big Top Face Painting”, and layouts children can operate.

Artisan Alley are displaying, demonstrating and selling exciting creations of several varieties to interest the ladies.

The Toowoomba Model Railway Club Inc. always takes great pride in offering value for money with reasonable admission charges, and plenty of easily accessible FREE Parking in the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

Admission charges are Adult $14.00, Pensioner/Tertiary $10.00 (subject to suitable ID). Pre-School and School Age Children FREE if accompanied by an Adult. A $4.00 Off Admission Voucher can be downloaded from the Toowoomba Model Railway Club Facebook page…. Go Here

The Toowoomba Model Trains & Hobby Expo runs from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, June 1st and 9am to 4pm Sunday, 2nd June at the Toowoomba Showgrounds at Glenvale.

Submitted by:
Angela Adams
Expo Coordinator
E: tmrcexpo@gmail.com
Toowoomba Model Railway Club Inc.

Aiming For A Fatality Free Friday

Friday May 31st is Fatality Free Friday (FFF) for 2019, and Toowoomba is standing up as a community planning an event to raise Road Safety Awareness at Grand Central, Central Square – cnr Margaret & Victoria St.

 

This is a partnership event between  Queensland Department of.Transport and Main Roads, Toowoomba Regional Council, Grand Central and the Queensland Police Service. Grand Central was chosen as a high visibility site for the event with displays by emergency services and road safety support agencies and access to food outlets in the store.

 

The event will run from 7.30 till  around 11am with some formal speeches by the Mayor, Senior Police, Senior QFES and Senior Ambulance staff from 9.30 onwards.

 

Fatality Free Friday started with a vision for road safety awareness in 2007 and is beyond one day, now recognised as Australia’s only national community based road safety program.

 

For general information and history of the program see: About-Fatality-Free-Friday

Submitted by:
Tony Rehn
Crime Prevention Officer
Darling Downs District
Queensland Police Service
QPS website: www.police.qld.gov.au
131 444 Policelink
Crimestoppers 1800 333 000

Winners announced! Darling Downs Science and Engineering Challenge Day 4

The final results are in! Centenary Heights State High School is the champion of the 2019 Darling Downs Science and Engineering Challenge.

Anish Roy and Sam Leahy from Centenary Heights SHS (activity – Future Power)

Centenary Heights SHS were the Day 4 winners, ahead of St Peter Claver College, St Ursula’s College, Clifton SHS, Oakey SHS, Toowoomba Christian College, Downlands College and Laidley SHS.

The school also claimed the highest score of the week, earning the Darling Downs trophy and a place at the state final.

St Ursula’s College’s Naomi Tinkler, Harriet Thomas and Ella Richert (activity – Grasping at Straws)
Toowoomba Christian College’s Harrison Job and Nicholas Burke (activity †Stringways)

The Darling Downs Science and Engineering Challenge is held at USQ each year and allows students to engage in a set of fun and competitive activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology.

Emma Thomson and Mia Bennetts from Downlands College (activity – Confounding Communications)
Jayden-Rhys Clark and Sam Ferguson from Oakey SHS (activity †Bridge)

The challenge:

  • provides students with a challenge and a selection of materials to complete the set task
  • immediately engages students in activities with a minimum of introduction and theory
  • allows students to explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a predetermined answer.
Julianne Espana from Clifton SHS (activity – Flat Pack Challenge)

Over four days (May 21-24), more than 1000 students from 30 schools competed in a series
of hands-on activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Toowoomba.

 

Submitted By:
Rhianwen Whitney,
E: rhianwen.whitney@usq.edu.au,
Ph: 07 4631 2977

Darling Downs Science & Engineering Challenge Day 3

Alex Myers, Declan Perry, Declan Coleman and Anshul Shiju from St Mary’s College Toowoomba

St Mary’s College Toowoomba overcame fierce competition to take out Day 3 of the Darling Downs Science and Engineering Challenge.

Highfields State Secondary College’s Maddie Jones
Doug Plant, Kye Faulkner and George Staines from Toowoomba Grammar School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teams taking part included Chinchilla SHS, Toowoomba Grammar School, Highlands Christian College, St Joseph’s College (Toowoomba), Highfields State Secondary College, Bremer SHS and Darling Downs Christian School.

 

Logan Morrish and Zoe Francis from St Joseph’s College (Toowoomba)
Logan Morrish and Zoe Francis from St Joseph’s College (Toowoomba)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now in its 16th year, the challenge continues to be a fun-filled event that encourages students to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for themselves and gain an insight into the opportunities these fields present.

Megan Herholdt and Hannah Middleton from Highlands Christian College

The 2019 challenge wraps up at the University of Southern Queensland tomorrow (May 24).
(Usq Photography)

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney,
E: rhianwen.whitney@usq.edu.au,
Ph: 07 4631 2977

Centenary Site Tour – Highfields Pioneer Village

Join Engineers Australia on Saturday 25th May to experience a site tour of a local project at the Highfields Pioneer Village, where you’ll see a rare showcase of a 1940 Vintage Southern Cross Mark BGC 40HP 1200 RPM diesel engine on display to celebrate Engineers Australia’s 100 year anniversary.


The site tour ticket price $15 includes entry, billy tea and a slice of damper for morning tea.

The tour format is:
9.00am: Arrival and collect tickets

9.30am: Unveiling of the Engine Display

10.00am: Tour of the Southern Cross Museum

10.30am: Morning Tea / Billy Tea and Damper

11.00am: Tour of the Transport Museum

11.30am: Tour of the Historic Fire Engine Museum

12.00pm: Tour concludes

Please contact Doug for more info on 0418 987 662

Submitted by:
Jody Dodds 
Treasurer
Highfields Pioneer Village, Museum and Park Inc.
73 Wirraglen Road,
Highfields
Ph 07 4696 6309

Grow Your Knowledge With Leafmore Winter Garden School

Leafmore Garden Society’s biennial Winter Garden School over 12-13 June is celebrating its 10th year.

President Ed Power said currently sixty percent of bookings were return customers. About 150 people are expected to attend this year, the majority attending both days of the school with attendees coming from northern NSW, but mainly from the Darling Downs and south-east Queensland.

In his second year as president, Ed said the society had received a lot of feedback about “what a
fabulous program you’ve organised this year”.

Keynote speaker is ABC Gardens Australia presenter, and author of ‘The Thrifty Gardener’, Millie Ross. “She’s very practical and down to earth, and that appeals to a lot of people,” Ed said.

A professional horticulturalist, garden designer, writer, broadcaster, and passionate home gardener, Millie is best known for her no-frills approach to low-cost gardening allowing people to create the best garden possible with “whatever you’ve got”.

Ed said he believed this year’s line-up of presenters really had everything covered, from the ground up, starting with soil scientist Andrew Biggs, to Russell Young’s extensive knowledge of all types of plants, propagation, pests and diseases and giving your garden the “wow” factor.

Shirley Dance talks passionately about roses, Linda Brennan speaks on growing and cooking with edible plants, while Adam Woodhams, who is an internationally recognised nature photographer, talks photography and sustainability and Mike Wells gives water use efficiency tips.

Attendees also have an opportunity to win fabulous prizes in the multi-draw raffles, the proceeds of
which are donated to Rosies Friends on the Street and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

Winter Garden School cost is $90 per day or $163 for two days, including morning tea and lunch, and attendees can buy a range of plants, tools and other garden-related items at the trade stalls.

For details on the garden school (closing date for bookings May 31), dinner with guest speaker Millie Ross ($45), or the Leafmore Garden Society, phone Ed on 4632 5499 or email leafmore4350@gmail.com.

Submitted by:
Ed Power
President Leafmore Garden Society Inc.
PO Box 2344, Toowoomba
E: leafmore4350@gmail.com
T: 07 4632 5499

Darling Downs Science & Engineering Challenge Day 2

It was neck and neck between the Western and Southern Downs, but Warwick’s Assumption College triumphed on Day 2 of the Darling Downs Science and Engineering Challenge. 

Zoe Kasper and Eliza Connor from Assumption College (Warwick) (activity †Stringways)

Teams from St Mary’s Parish School (Goondiwindi), Faith Lutheran College, Assumption College (Warwick), Miles SHS, Nanango SHS, Millmerran State P-10 School, Harristown SHS, and Our Lady of the Southern Cross College (Dalby).

Connor Lloyd from Harristown State High School (activity – Future Power)
Millmerran State School P-10’s Thamu Soe (Return to Mars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba is hosting for than 30 schools over four days (May 21-24)
for the regional competition of hands-on science and engineering activities.

Paul Valdez, Henry Borres, Thamu Soe and Jeremiah Diete from Millmerran State School P-10 (activity – Return to Mars)
(R to L) Ty Clapperton, Spencer Harth, Isaac Harvey and Owen Fuengcharoey from Our Lady of the Southern Cross (Dalby) (The Bridge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney,
E: rhianwen.whitney@usq.edu.au,
Ph: 07 4631 2977