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Relax With Free “Summer Tunes In The Blooms” In January, February 2016

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Enjoy lazy summer Sundays with an outing to Toowoomba Regional Council’s (TRC) free “Summer Tunes in the Blooms” program across January and February from Sunday January 10th, 2016. Four of Toowoomba’s premier public parks ̶ the Picnic Point bandstand, the shade shelter area at Laurel Bank Park, at the Newtown Park State Rose Garden and near the Margaret Street children’s play area in Queens Park will host performances

Regional audiences in Oakey, Crows Nest, Millmerran and Pittsworth will have musical afternoons starting from the end of January for the third year. This year the program will include Goombungee on February 28. TUX’s (formerly Tuxedo Junction) will perform in Mocatta Street near the war memorial from noon to 3pm.

A SummerTunes Trio
Damian Black (left) strums a number with Cr Sue Englart and Cr Geoff McDonald ahead of the start of Summer Tunes. Mr Black will appear at Picnic Point with his band.on Sunday 9th January.

TRC Tourism and Events portfolio leader Cr Geoff McDonald said “The parks are a top tourist drawcard at any time of year and this is an extra reason to head outdoors and see the beauty of the region’s recreation areas. Summer Tunes are as much a part of summer as cicadas, sizzling barbecues, backyard cricket and the whirr of lawn mowers.”

TRC Parks and Recreation portfolio leader Cr Sue Englart, a co-instigator of the program 16 years ago, is delighted musical offerings have become a fixture on the city’s summer social calendar. “Tunes and Blooms are a wonderful mix over the Sundays in January and February. It is a great showcase of talented musicians set against the spectacular backdrop of our magnificent civic parks,” Cr Englart said.

Sunday’s program starts near the children’s play area in Queens Park for the Children’s Capers segments from 10am to noon. An added feature in Queens Park is free face painting for children of all ages. Other themes are The Big Bands at Picnic Point, Picnic Pleasures in Laurel Bank Park and Music in the Roses at Newtown Park. These sessions run from noon to 3pm.

The opening week line-ups include The Alison Bryant Quartet at Queens Park with a selection of jazz, swing jazz and rock and roll songs along with the Broxburn Music Club of Pittsworth at Newtown Park. Whisky Mac draws on a catalogue of Celtic and Australian folk music and popular tunes spanning country, Latin and calypso styles at Laurel Bank Park.

The popular Damian Black Band opens the Picnic Point program in rousing fashion with a selection of covers and originals. Internationally acclaimed Damian Black will be joined by top Toowoomba guitarist Dale Robbins and a selection of other musicians and vocalists. Mr Black has written more than 600 songs and enjoyed an extensive professional career across Europe, in particular, in the 1990s. During that time he played in Iceland, Denmark, Germany, Austria and across the United Kingdom, among other countries. After playing at the very first Summer Tunes program, Mr Black and his band of revolving musicians have been regular fixtures in recent years. Visitors to Picnic Point Park can expect to see him at the piano this weekend.

The following seven weeks will see performers across pop, rock, Celtic, country, jazz, and big band genres. Enjoy performances by Yakety Saxes, JEDDY (Jazz Education for Darling Downs Youth Society), Zedd PM, Toowoomba Municipal Band, High Altitude Harmony, Women in Harmony, Paul Edwards Quintet, the Jim Miller Big Band, Slow Train Coming, Timeless, Triple Beat, The Darlington String Trio and Kelly’s Armour among others.

The Regional Summer Tunes program is:

Oakey: January 31, Arthur Shooter Park, Aperitif. 10.30am-1pm.

Crow’s Nest: February 7, Centenary Park, Slow Train Coming. Noon-3pm.

Millmerran: February 14, Anzac Park, Paul Edwards Quintet. 10am-1.30pm.

Pittsworth: February 21, Pittsworth Pioneer Village and Museum, 2 Timing. Noon-3pm.

Goombungee: February 28, Mocatta St near war memorial, TUX’s. noon-3pm.

The full program can be viewed at www.tr.qld.gov.au/summertunes

 

Farewell 2015 At Free Family Festivities In Queens Park, Toowoomba

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Farewell 2015 At Free Family Festivities In Queens Park, Toowoomba

Join the frivolity at a free family program to farewell 2015 near Frog’s Hollow in lower Queens Park, off Margaret Street, Toowoomba on New Year’s Eve. Toowoomba Regional Council Tourism and Events portfolio leader Cr Geoff McDonald said the early evening program offered fun entertainment for families and all ages.

“Council will keep the festive spirit rolling through the holiday period with a range of activities from 5-8pm in Queens Park,” Cr McDonald said.  “The early evening timeslot is designed for families to enjoy a relaxing program.

Free rides, sponsored by Suncorp Bank, and activities will be staged for children with other family games suited to any age.  Prizes will be awarded during the contests with entertainment, food and drinks available to buy.

Pixabay Image 227383“Gary the Great will perform two clown shows along with a circus aerial performance, wire walking, juggling, balancing, whip cracking and a comedy routine from 5.30pm, ” he said. “Toowoomba City Cheerleaders will rev up the crowd and be involved in a limbo parade with other games on offer plus a DJ.  A belly dancing display will precede a Guinness Book of Records world record attempt for the longest conga line.”

“The function has grown in recent years and ends with a dazzling fireworks display sponsored by Orchy Toowoomba from 7.45pm.

See 2015 out in style with friends and family at an alcohol-free event. The timing lets families enjoy the entertainment program and offers adults the chance to attend functions for the countdown to 2016  following the community celebrations in.

Submitted by:
Angus Moffatt
Media Relations Officer
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council

Photo Report

New-_Year_Fireworks_Sign

NYE3

Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival Ends On High Note.

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Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival Ends On High Note.

Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival for 2015 has came to an end.

The Middle Ridge Uniting Church auditorium was host to an almost capacity crowd for the final concert on the evening of Friday, 18th December. The very last item was presented by the combination of a vocal ensemble and the U3A Chamber Singers together featuring four sopranos.
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The Committee wish to thank all those visitors who came from near and far to view the trees, and support the other activities of the Festival through:
• Donations to our two advertised Charities, Buy †A †Bale, and the Kairos Prison Ministry ***
• Purchasing goods from Craft and Cake Stalls
• Enjoying the refreshments from the café
• Supporting the empty Christmas Tree with gifts and money
• Attending and supporting most enthusiastically the matinee and evening concert programs.
*** The Committee will divide over $4,500.00 equally between the two charities.

Was the Festival a success?
• If success is measured in monetary terms, “yes”.
• If success is measured in terms of the number of visitors, “yes” †we welcomed 4,532 people to view the trees
• But we measure real success in terms of the joy we gave to those visitors by sharing with them “the real meaning of Christmas”, and the personal stories which were shared by visitors.

Thank you also to Toowoomba Regional Radio’s FM Stations in Toowoomba, Highfields, Crow’s Nest, Pittsworth, Millmerran and Dalby for their continuing support by way of daily updates.

The Committee thanks all who were involved in the Festival, and wishes for you all a Happy and Holy Christmas.

Submitted by:
Alan Pennington
Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival Committee
Middle Ridge Uniting Church
Toowoomba

Community Shows Generosity

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Community Shows Generosity

Loads of Love
After launching on the 27th of November, and in just 15 days, the METRO Care Loads of Love Appeal has seen more than 6500kg of non-perishable food and personal items donated to help families in the Toowoomba region who are doing it tough.

This equates to more than 100 shopping trolleys full of food or 650 bags of much needed items being delivered to families in our region needing a little Christmas cheer.

Many individuals, families and businesses have generously donated to the Appeal resulting in enough non-perishable goods to support more than 500 households. This means about 150 extra households will receive support this year than would normally be assisted.

METRO Care Operations Manager, Matt Gregg said, “We are blown away by the generosity of this community and are thankful for every contribution, large and small.”

“Every year we hear stories from the families and households that receive support about how much of a difference your generosity makes.”

“Often they are overwhelmed that strangers would care enough to help them celebrate Christmas.”

“It’s true that just one kilo can help change the lives of others.”

Mr Gregg said that the greatest strength of the Loads of Love Appeal is the collaboration of business, not-for-profit organisations and individuals that are committed to improving the general wellbeing of the broader community.

The Loads of Love Appeal and the resulting donations would not be possible without the backing of official sponsors and supporters along with the support of many others who have made generous contributions to this year’s appeal.

The hard work continues across Christmas as volunteers pack and distribute the food and more donations are welcome.

Anyone wanting to donate to the Loads of Love Appeal is encouraged to contact the METRO Care office on 4631 5822.

Aerospace Research At USQ Proving It Can Take The Heat

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Aerospace Research At USQ Proving It Can Take The Heat

Mechanical and mechatronic engineers have built the modern world, and University of Southern Queensland (USQ) research continues to make strides in this space.

For example, the work of Professor David Buttsworth has reached around the world and, potentially, far beyond it.  Based in USQ’s School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Professor Buttsworth’s recent research projects have seen him collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

His area of expertise is thermofluids engineering, and it is playing a major role in work to improve NASA spacecraft heat shields.

Professor Buttsworth and his team are key players in an international project to record the spectra of radiation emitted by re-entry capsules at simulated re-entry conditions, doing the fundamental physics and engineering that will enable the development of improved designed tools.

USQ School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering’s Professor David Buttsworth
USQ School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering’s Professor David Buttsworth

Another project, HEXAFLY International, sees Professor Buttsworth work with ESA and other partners to develop high-speed aerospace vehicles.

Utilising USQ’s hypersonic wind tunnel and research laboratory, Professor Buttsworth and his research team are conducting test flights of vehicle models. It’s all in a bid to create a new generation of travel – civil high-speed transportation.  USQ’s engineering laboratories house state-of-the art testing facilities, including the University’s hypersonic wind tunnel †able to produce high speed flows (typically above Mach Five) for relatively long durations.

USQ’s success in this area was recognised in the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) report which was released earlier this month.  ERA is a framework undertaken every three years which ranks research produced in Australian universities against national and international benchmarks, and the 2015 report evaluated USQ’s research in the area of mechanical engineering as above world standard.

For more information about USQ research, visit www.usq.edu.au/research

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney
email: rhianwen.whitney@usq.edu.au
Phone: 07 4631 2977

Free Christmas Rockmelons At Farmers’ Market

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Free Christmas Rockmelons At Farmers’ Market

Whoa! ‘My Local Feast’ Farmers’ Market offers free Christmas rockmelons at last farmers’ market for the year

Who said you never get anything for free? Organisers of the My Local Feast Farmers’ Markets believe Christmas is a time of giving and feasting, and have organised a special treat for shoppers at this week’s market at the Empire Theatre on Thursday, December 17th.

Josie Townsend_2Farmers’ Market Manager, Josie Townsend said, “We considered having Santa turn up, but he is so busy at this time of year, he helped us work with local farmer and Santa’s Helper, Teresa Kluck from Limit Farms in the Lockyer Valley, to share these yummy Christmas rockmelons with you.”

The rockmelons will be given to shoppers who make a purchase from any other stallholder at the markets between 4 and 6pm and will be limited to one per family, so the Christmas spirit can be shared.  There will also be a caffeine Happy Hour with Naughty Goat Farms coffee trailer offering $3 coffees between 3pm †5pm.

Pixabay Image 814930Come along and get your Christmas turkey, hams, bread, fruit and vegetables, condiments, herbs and garlic, meat, chicken, eggs and lots more.  Josie said, “The Armitage Centre Bar is also open and we have local musicians playing from 4pm. It is an amazing atmosphere and if it rains we simply move into the Church. These markets always go ahead.”

The My Local Feast Farmers’ Markets are Toowoomba’s only weekly farmers’ markets and are held every Thursday at the Empire Theatre grounds from 3pm †7pm.

This Thursday will be the final market for the year with the weekly markets restarting from Thursday 21st January, 2016.

For more information go to www.mylocalfeastfarmersmarket.com.au or find us on Facebook.

My Local Feast logoWhy: Because Toowoomba, as one of the largest food growing regions in Australia deserves a vibrant local food economy that supports farmers. We need to start addressing the market power of the current supermarket duopoly and creating viable options for food distribution channels. Farmers’ markets are not the only answer but they do provide an ‘experience’ of connecting with the person who grows your food †and that is very powerful in changing the community’s behavior with the way they shop.
Mojo Business Management, the local company that runs ‘My Local Feast Farmers Markets’ will be launching a number of other local food-based projects in the New Year including farmers’ market boxes, food tours, a local marketing campaign supporting local businesses that support farmers and a national online social food connection platform.

 

Josie Townsend
Farmers’ Market Manager
0432 267 003
www.mylocalfeastfarmersmarkets.com.au  or
https://www.facebook.com/mylocalfeastFMempiretheatre/

Venue Change For 2015 Peacehaven Park Carols

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Those planning to attend the Peacehaven Park Carols in Highfields on the evening of Saturday, 12th December, are advised that due to continuing rain a decision has been made to relocate to the wet weather venue, the SmartSpace Hall at the Highfields State School, New England Highway. Please note that food will not be available, so please eat beforehand. The program is due to commence at 6pm.

Any further information may be obtained from Rev. Stephanie Patching, phone 0429 477 845.

A Christmas Festival For All In The Toowoomba Area!

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The Toowoomba Philharmonic Society is presenting a Christmas Festival on Saturday 12th of  December, 2015. There will be games for all ages, face painting, bubble blowing and a sausage sizzle.  A Christmas concert will follow with all the classics and some new favourites.

The evening will also feature a visit from Santa, a raffle, and a free supper with tea and coffee after the performance . Gates open at 5:30pm and the Concert starts at 6:30pm. Santa will be arriving close to 7pm and the raffle will be drawn at the end of the night.
Christmas poster 2015
Children enter the Christmas Festival free, and $5 for Adults. the venue is the Toowoomba Philharmonic Complex at 7 Matthews Street, Toowoomba.

For more information please call 07 4636 3072 or to learn about the Society visit www.toowoombaphilharmonic.org

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