And it seems many of our farmers may experience full dams at last. With that, there have been some serious flood warnings and to ensure everyone stays safe, we have cancelled today’s farmers’ markets (Thu 30th March) at the Empire Theatre.
We have had a pretty good run because, despite all the Thursday rain last year, we never, ever cancelled a market. Our priority is to ensure everyone is safe (and dry) and our farmers’ have all appreciated the cancellation, though many were still prepared to come if it was on.
Stay tuned, we are launching our Cobb & Co markets program for Saturday 8th April this week.
Next Thursday (April 6th) we will also welcome James Reeson from Alive and Cooking. Come and meet James and be a part of our vibrant community. We will get the opportunity to showcase our wonderful produce and our fabulous farmers’ markets nationally.
Please keep supporting our wonderful local farmers and we will see you next Thursday from 3pm – 7pm on the front lawns at the Empire Theatre 54-56 Neil Street, Toowoomba. Submitted by:
Josie & the team at My Local Feast
1/625 Ruthven Street
Toowoomba
The 2017 Felton Food Festival was held on Sunday, 26th March under favourable weather conditions. Whilst crowd numbers were well below the 2016 record number of 12,000, this year’s Festival was a very enjoyable one.
The Celebrity Face Off between Alastair McLeod and Costa Georgiadis is always a crowd pleaser.
Tropical Cyclone Debbie 27th March – Himawari 8 Satellite Image
Tropical Cyclone Debbie formed in the Coral Sea on Saturday 25th March, 2017
Tropical Cyclone Debbie intensified to a severe category 3 cyclone mid morning Monday 27th March and has intensified to Category 4 on approach to the Central Queensland coast.: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml
Headline:
Debbie is currently a category 2 cyclone centred to the southwest of Collinsville.
Areas affected:
Warning zone: Ayr to St Lawrence, including Mackay, and the Whitsunday Islands, extending inland to Charters Towers, Mount Coolon, and Moranbah.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Debbie at 10:00 pm Tuesday, 28th March AEST:
Intensity: category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 100 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 140 kilometres per hour. Location: within 35 kilometres of 20.7 degrees South, 147.8 degrees East , 90 kilometres west southwest of Proserpine and 15 kilometres south southwest of Collinsville . Movement: west southwest at 13 kilometres per hour .
Tropical cyclone Debbie is continuing to weaken as it moves slowly inland. It is currently a category 2 cyclone, and is expected to weaken further tonight. On Wednesday, the remnant tropical low will curve from the current southwesterly motion to a more southerly track over inland Queensland.
Although the peak winds near the centre are weakening rapidly tonight, heavy rainfall is expected to continue across the region for the next 12 to 24 hours, gradually contracting southwards with the system.
Hazards:
The DESTRUCTIVE CORE of tropical cyclone Debbie is located southwest Collinsville and is continuing to move inland. DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 140 km/h are still possible near the cyclone centre.
GALES are occurring about the coast and islands between about Cape Upstart and St Lawrence, and extend inland to Proserpine, Collinsville, and Moranbah. These GALES are expected to extend inland further to locations such as Charters Towers and Mount Coolon tonight.
Abnormally high tides are expected between Bowen and St Lawrence. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.
Areas of heavy rain with the potential to cause severe flash flooding have developed around the Central Coast and Whitsundays district. These heavy rain areas are expected to spread further inland through central and southeastern Queensland. Widespread daily rainfall totals of 150 to 250 mm are expected, with significantly higher totals possible locally. This is likely to lead to major river flooding over a broad area this week, and a Flood Watch for coastal catchments between Ayr and the NSW border, extending inland to parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Maranoa and Warrego, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.
Westbrook‘s Susanne Maurer has become the first Towoomba woman to reach a milestone of 400 blood donations when she made her latest donation on Wednesday, 22nd March, 2017. Mrs Maurer is now one of only 7 Queensland women to reach 400 donations, having helped saved the lives of up to 1,200 Australians along the way.
Susanne (Sue) donates her O blood type at Toowoomba Blood Donor Centre fortnightly, a common blood type, yet one in high demand from hospitals.
After her donation, a special presentation was made to Mrs Maurer to honour the occasion.
If you would like to roll up your sleeves and help a fellow Queenslander, make an appointment to donate blood by calling 13 14 95, or visit donateblood.com.au for more information.
Radio Interview: Gordon Patterson of Toowoomba City FM talks with Mrs Sue Maurer and Sandee Thompson of ARCBS…..
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service Toowoomba Donor Centre is at 661 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba with free parking close by at the Bernoth Centre.
Submitted by: Sandee Thompson Community Relations Officer E: SaThompson@redcrossblood.org.au
Every year, Toowoomba’s underground world of zombies, slayers and their survivors are called upon to participate in the TOOWOOMBA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION’S ZOMBIE WALK.
Now in its fourth year, event participants become an amazing array of characters, from survivors, to military peace keepers, to slayers, to full-on flesh eating blood soaked zombies, all in the name of raising funds for children’s health at the Toowoomba Hospital.
Meet at St Saviour’s Primary School(12 Lawrence St) from 3pm for activities, food and games, with the walk to commence at 5pm. Return to St Saviour’s with the fun to continue until 8:30pm.
The Zombie Walk caters to a large audience, from young children, right through to parents who want to dust off their favourite zombiefied costumes.
10 free activities will be on offer + laser skirmish, a zombie maze and much much more.
This will be a zombie-tastic day out, with many activities on offer! So get out your diaries, mark down the 25th of March, and get ready to get your Zombie on.
Cost: $10 adults and $5 for children under 12 (under 5’s free) and $20 per family (2 adults + 2 kids).
TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE OR AT BRUTAL DELUXE, PARTY HUT AND HIP POCKET WORKWEAR TOOWOOMBA.
Last years AFL Grand-Finalists, the South Toowoomba Bombers will host a pre-season tournament known as the Cardinal Cup at the home of the Highfields Lions, Kratzke Oval.
Fellow AFL Darling Downs clubs, the Goondiwindi Hawks, Warwick Redbacks and Toowoomba Tigers along with Park Ridge AFC (Jimboomba) from the South East, will converge on Kratzke Oval across the two days to prepare for the season ahead. South Toowoomba Bombers President, Keith Neumann said it was a great opportunity to prepare for the new season.
“It’s been a long pre-season and this is another opportunity for us to blow out the cobwebs and look ahead to a massive year in the newly restructured AFL Darling Downs men’s competition. Not only is it a great preparation on-field, but off-field, it gives us an opportunity to fund raise and prepare as volunteers for the regular season.”
“Both our men’s and women’s teams are looking forward to the hit out, we believe 2017 the Bombers will be producing something special,†President Keith Neumann added.
The South Toowoomba Bombers women’s team will also take to the field on Sunday afternoon as they come up against the reigning premiers, the Toowoomba Tigers.
All the action kicks off from 1:00pm Saturday, when the Goondiwindi Hawks play the Toowoomba Tigers. Day one runs from 1:00pm through to 7:00pm, with Day two action kicking off from 8:30am and running up until the last game between the Bombers and Tigers women’s teams finishing at 4:00pm.
Footy is back!
Submitted by: Jeff Neumann Regional Manager AFL Queensland
“It’s the story of the business of killing and it needs to be told.”
Guest speaker Josh Agland is an ex-industry insider who worked in an abattoir for three years. Josh will be in Toowoomba on Friday 17 February 2017 at 6:30pm at the Uni Bar USQ, R Block, West Street, Toowoomba, to share his story with us.
Agland’s insider knowledge makes him uniquely qualified to talk to us about the realities of a modern slaughterhouse and the effects they have on animals, workers and the surrounding community. He’ll also address some of the issues of exploitation, greed and power that the industry uses to further disconnect society at the expense of nonhuman and human victims.
“Josh is an engaging speaker with an important story to tell.  He will move you to tears and inspire you to make kinder choices in your everyday life.” says Mo Orr, Vegans In Toowoomba.
It took time for Josh to be ready to talk about his years spent in the slaughterhouse. But he realised that it’s not his storyâ€â€it’s the story of the animals in the slaughter lines, and of the workers who perform the dangerous, soul-destroying work. It’s the story of the business of killing and it needs to be told.
“The key is to unlock that individual trigger of empathy in people.†Agland says, and that we need to be aware of what’s happening to animals and to fight for them.
Please join us for this important event:
Date: Friday 17 February 2016 at 6:30pm
Venue: Uni Bar USQ, R Block, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba
Cost: $10 p/p includes Tortilla Wraps
Bookings: phone/text 0412 775 678 to confirm your booking
Payment at the door on the night.
Submitted by: Mo Orr: 0407 900 019 Renata Halpin: 0412 775 678 Vegans in Toowoomba
The February Open Day on Sunday, 5th February at the Royal Bulls Head Inn is based around Valentines Day, with Jewellery Displays on show.  There will be both old and new styles to view, some of which will be available to purchase on the day.  Other stalls will also be set up where visitors will be able to purchase items. We will also have our usual Morning Tea of Home Baked Treats made by one of our dedicated volunteers.
To keep up to date on what’s happening at the Royal Bulls Head Inn like our Facebook Page or follow us on Instagram. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, or would like to make a private booking, contact the Trust on toowoomba@nationaltrustqld.org or phone Debby on 0402 138 751.
Additional Details: The Royal Bull’s Head Inn is also available for private bookings, High Tea’s, Afternoon Tea’s etc.
Submitted by:
