The Breakthrough for Families Program helps families and significant others of individuals affected by ice and other drugs †in particular families with children, to obtain information, develop support strategies and connect to treatment and other services.
The program provides families and the broader community affected by ice, alcohol and other drugs access to free, accessible information, and tailored strategies to help themselves and others.
Families can receive brief individual support over several private sessions tailored to their individual needs and circumstances and our support can be accessed on a voluntary basis, and we are focused on helping people who may not have easy access to support.
Come and see a wide range of cut and uncut gemstones, jewellery, semi-precious gemstones, beads, pearls and opals. See crystal and mineral specimens from all over the world. Carvings from precious and semi-precious stones are great for gifts, including Christmas presents. All items are for sale.
If you feel like a good laugh and a hearty breakfast, the Highfields Pioneer Village is hosting the Bush Poets Breakfast on Sunday the 21st of October from 7:30am to 9:30am, showcasing bush humour by renowned poet Greg North.
Greg was a resident of the Blue Mountains NSW, he is a writer and performer of bush poetry and yarns. His quirky humour and bent for accents make him unique among bush verse entertainers. He literally ‘lives’ each character, whether it’s the coal seam gas miner, the complaining granny or a rather camp Clancy of The Overflow. Since his first major competition win at the ‘Man From Snowy River Festival’ in 2004, Greg has won a string of performance poetry awards including Australian Bush Poetry Champion in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In late 2006 Greg won his first award for written poetry – a first place in the Gippsland Wattle Bush Poetry Award – followed up by several other wins in written competitions. Greg has also competed four times at the National Poetry Slam.
Known for his rendition of Banjo Paterson’s ‘The Man From Snowy River’ in 15 different accents and a variety of other characters, he’s not your regular bush poet.
Greg’s Bush Laureate Award-winning CD Frackin’ Fricker gives an irreverent insight into coal seam gas mining along with some slam pieces, neglected verse and even a rap. He also has two DVDs: Gregory North should Stick It and Man of Many Hats where you can see his unique characters and hats, plus CDs Fully Sick, Mate! and Winton’s Wisp of Banjo Paterson.
Greg will not only perform at the Village on Sunday 21st October but will be conducting a Poetry writing workshop at 10am for all those budding poets who wish to have a go. To book your tickets please head to the Village Facebook page or Trybooking.com or over the counter at the Rhondas Refits store in Toowoomba. All proceeds aid the Highfields Pioneer Village and the Bunya Park Scouts Group.
Tickets at $20 for adults and $10 for Child 5-15 years includes: Full cooked brekkie, Billy Tea, entertainment and entry. Breakfast starts at 7:30am and finishes at 9:30am. There will be prizes for the best walk up Poets’ on the day.
Your ticket also includes entry to over 70 historic buildings which will bring back memories from times gone by.
Submitted by: Jody Dodds Treasurer Highfields Pioneer Village, Museum and Park Inc. Open 10am to 4pm Daily Ph 07 4696 6309 highfieldspioneervillage@ hotmail.comÂÂ
Non-profit organisation run entirely by Volunteers.
73 Wirraglen Rd, Highfields.
P.O Box 325, Highfields QLD 4352. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Darling Downs for future generations.ÂÂ
A free Mental Health Week event is being held to break down stigmas about mental health issues and facilities. – Darling Downs Health’s Mental Health Week event will be held at McDonald Hall, Baillie Henderson Hospital, on Tuesday 9 October from 10am to 2pm.
More than 40 mental health service providers will attend including Headspace, Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement, Toowoomba Clubhouse, Richmond Fellowship Qld, Warrina, Lifeline, Catholic Care, TASC, Open Minds and the Department of Defence. There will also be a variety of activities and entertainment on the day including live music, drum beat, an art exhibition, chalk art demonstrations, and a free sausage sizzle.
Darling Downs Health Consumer and Community Engagement Officer Donna Lucas said the event aimed to provide the community with an opportunity to connect with local service providers and wellbeing programs, while participating in various activities. “This is our second Mental Health Week event at Baillie Henderson Hospital with the first one in 2017 being a great success,†Ms Lucas said.
“Baillie Henderson Hospital has proudly provided mental health services since 1890 and over the years mental health services have taken many forms at the campus,†she said. “A booklet outlining the history of Baillie Henderson Hospital will be available at the event, and it is a very interesting and informative read about one of Toowoomba’s oldest facilities.
“Today Baillie Henderson Hospital treats up to 100 mental health service consumers, some of whom have contributed artwork to the art exhibition that will be on display at the Mental Health Week event. We are encouraging community members and staff to come along, enjoy the event, show support for our mental health service consumers and help to break down any stigma surrounding mental health that might prevent people from seeking mental health support when required.â€Â
The opening ceremony will start at 10.30am, featuring a welcome to country with traditional Indigenous dancers, and free on-site car parking is available on the day. For more information phone 4699 8386 or email DDHHS-Consumer-Engagement@health.qld.gov.au .
The Darling Downs Health Mental Health Week event is partially supported by Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN under the Australian Government’s PHN Program.
The popular Lost Trades Fair returns to Cobb+Co Museum in Toowoomba on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October 2018, showcasing master artisans demonstrating and sharing their skills and talent in more than 50 heritage trades.
George Smithwick, cooper and Kerry Riehl, wheelwright
An amazing variety of artisans will be on display including a sixth generation cooper (barrels maker) plus stonemasons, weavers, blacksmiths, leather plaiters, penny farthing makers, spoon carvers, bookbinder, saddler, toy maker and master craftspeople who have been practising these trades their whole life.
Acting CEO of the Queensland Museum Network, Dr Jim Thompson said the Lost Trades Fair gives visitors the rare opportunity to see a wide variety of traditional trades being practised up close and to speak with the tradesperson.
“Cobb+Co Museum, with its own trades workshops, is the perfect place to shine a spotlight both on the trades that are usually practiced behind closed workshops doors, and the amazing dedication, passion and willingness of these craftspeople to pass on their skills,†Dr Thompson said.
Dr Thompson said the Lost Trades Fair was a unique opportunity to find out more about Queensland’s past. “Visitors will get an authentic experience as they learn first-hand about historic crafts and trades that were once commonplace, and which contributed greatly to Australia’s development as a country,â€Â
“The Lost Trades Fair demonstrates the superb craftsmanship still practiced today in many of these trades,â€Â Dr Thompson said.
Dean Bolwell (Penny Farthing Dan)
Founder and Director of the Lost Trades Fair, Ms Lisa Rundell said it was exciting to bring the event back to Toowoomba after such an amazing response to the first event at Cobb+Co Museum in 2017. “Last year, more than 7,000 people visited The Lost Trades Fair at Cobb+Co Museum and we hope to continue
that success this year,†Ms Rundell said.
“Our aim is to inspire, educate and open the eyes and minds of the next generation to demand something made by a real person rather than a machine and to think about sustainability and the longevity of what they buy and use. With so many master artisans in the one place over the weekend we want to encourage people to have the confidence to design, make and create something real, and something crafted by their own hands.â€Â
For visitors inspired to try their hand at a heritage trade, the Cobb+Co Museum’s Hands on Workshops program offers a range of opportunities throughout the year from Blacksmithing Basics, Blacksmithing for Teens, Candlestick Workshop, Leather Plaiting, Wheelwrighting and Pot Hanger workshops.
Lost Trades Fair is on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are available online for a discount price of Adults $15 ($18 at the gate), Senior card holders $12 ($15 at the gate) and Children 5 to 15 years $5. Children under 5 years are free.
Grand Central has given a sneak peek of the float that will lead this year’s Grand Central Floral Parade on Saturday, as part of the 2018 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.ÂÂ
Grand Central Marketing Manager Marieke Bridgeman said the centre was proud to once again be major partner of the Grand Central Floral Parade. “This is Grand Central’s 22nd year of sponsoring the parade. There’s nothing quite like Carnival time in Toowoomba, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the floats in this year’s parade,†she said.
“These floats are the result of thousands of hours of work by local community and business groups, and the dedication that goes in to making them is to be commended.â€Â
Ms Bridgeman said the Grand Central float was designed by Joy Heylen from Urban Visual Arts & Sculpture, who took inspiration from the whimsical story of The Secret Garden. “We’re tapping into our childhood imaginations, our own special place in the secret garden where the creatures of the garden come to life, and flowers are bursting with colour,†she said.ÂÂ
“It’s taken Joy’s team around 250 man hours to complete this float, which features an elevated tree house in the secret garden. Hundreds of metres of foam has been used, and 800 flowers and plants will decorate the float on the day.†ÂÂ
Ms Bridgeman said the centre also had a range of free activities planned for the weekend, and encouraged people to visit Grand Central prior to the parade to get into the Carnival spirit. “Children can have their face painted, make their very own flower crown, or grab a flower balloon to take along and wave at the parade. They can even have a ride on the carousel that featured in our 2016 float!
“And for the adults, make sure you pop down to Level 1 of the Retail Galleria where Priceline will have a Glitter Bar designed to snazz up your Carnival look, and blokes with a beard will be able to get something truly unique †a Tommy Gun’s flower beard!†she said.
“All activities run from 10am-2pm, so we’re hoping to see plenty of people at the centre on Saturday before they head into the CBD to line the Toowoomba streets to witness all the floats in the Grand Central Floral Parade.â€Â Ms Bridgeman said from Sunday people can experience the float in person by visiting Grand Central. It will be located near Vapiano after it makes the journey home to the centre.
For more information on the range of free activities on at Grand Central this weekend, visit www.grandcentralshopping.com.au. For more information on the 2018 Carnival of Flowers, visit www.tcof.com.au.
Submitted by: Diane Balke Community Relations Manager
Council is taking action to commence medium-level water restrictions from Tuesday September 18 for several regional communities across the Toowoomba Regional Council area. This decision has been made due to signs of stress on local groundwater sources.
Mayor Paul Antonio said the earlier predictions by the Bureau of Meteorology that things would get worse before getting better have unfortunately come true, particularly for those communities that are not connected to the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply Network.
“The communities affected by this decision include Brookstead, Cambooya, Cecil Plains, Clifton, Greenmount, Hodgson Vale, Pittsworth, Southbrook, Valeview all of which rely on bores for their water supply. Yarraman will also move to restrictions in line with other communities that rely on the Boondooma Dam as their water source.
“The drought conditions are causing significant stress on water supplies and Council bores are under pressure in a number of regional communities.
“Recent testing has identified changes in flow, aquifer level and trace elements in water being drawn from our acquifers,†he said.
“Medium level water restrictions will apply to Hodgson Vale, Valeview, Cambooya, Clifton, Greenmount, Pittsworth (including Brookstead and Southbrook), Cecil Plains and Yarraman.ÂÂ
“Those communities currently connected to the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply will not be affected by this decision because they are not reliant on aquifer supply.
 “This is the driest year for our region since 1901 and the decision to move to increase water restrictions will take pressure off local aquifers.
“Weather experts say Australia is moving into an El Nino period by the end of Spring, bringing dry and warm conditions.ÂÂ
“Current forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology indicate below-average rainfall and this means that various areas throughout our region are likely to move to higher restrictions in the future.
“We need the community’s help to reduce water consumption as the drought conditions continue to impact us all. The more water we can save the better.
“Council will also look at other solutions to reduce the stress on our acquifers.ÂÂ
“These include:
Implementing conservation measures;
Supplementing groundwater supplies by transporting water;
Re-starting non-operational bores; and
Using portable filtration systems to improve water quality in some systems.
“Our region has been badly affected by droughts and our neighbouring Councils have already taken steps. It won’t come as a surprise that we are at the point of restrictions.
“Toowoomba Region residents have demonstrated their ability to use water responsibly.
“As in the past we are asking residents to work with us through these water restrictions until our aquifers are replenished by rain.
“With the Millennium drought in our recent memory we call on you all to use water responsibly.â€Â
Submitted by: Michael Duff
Senior Media Relations Officer
Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
Toowoomba Regional Council
Lifeline Darling Downs is set to celebrate National Op Shop Week in October with a VIP Op Bus Shop Tour. National Op Shop Week is an annual event being held this year from September 30th †October 6th.
Guests will be able to sit back and relax as they visit four Lifeline Darling Downs Op Shops stopping for lunch at the City Golf Club. There will also be special VIP exclusive discounts on the day. The organisation has partnered with the Toowoomba Sightseeing bus so guests will have the pleasure of being driven around the city in the iconic bus.
Opportunity shops or ‘Op’ shops as they are more commonly known are more than an opportunity to bag a bargain they are a retail space where goods are repurposed and given a new lease of life.
“We are really looking forward to bringing this event to Toowoomba. Our shops are real treasure troves with a very special purpose as all proceeds from sales go towards funding our suicide prevention and crisis support services. It is thanks the support of our community that we continue to receive donations.
By purchasing goods at our Lifeline Shops customers helping us to ensure we can continue to provide high quality professional services at no cost to those most in need in our community. â€Â, Lifeline Darling Downs, CEO, Derek Tuffield OAM said.
The bus tour is being held on Wednesday 3rd October. Tickets are $45 and are on sale now. Seats are limited so people are being urged to book early.
Tickets can be purchased at https://toowoombatickets.com.au/event/7656  For further information please call 1300 991 443.
NOTE: Lifeline Darling Downs & SWQ Ltd (LDDSWQL) is a community based organisation providing an array of crisis support and community services. For more information on services or to support Lifeline Darling Downs with this and other life changing programs visit www.lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au
 
