Please join us at Highfields Pioneer Village from 10.30am for the 2015 Highfields Big Cuppa. Your donation will help fund Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services. So raise your cup and together let’s do all we can to beat cancer.
Choosing the right school to fit your son or daughter is an important decision for your family.  At Downlands, the average class size ranges from 22 students per class in Years 7-10, down to 15 students per class in Years 11 and 12. Find how your family would fit in the Downlands College family at our action-packed annual Open Day on Sunday 17th May. Meet current students and teachers and go on personalised tours of the buildings, the grounds and Downlands Rural Centre, a fully functioning farm. A sausage sizzle will also be operating at lunchtime.
Downlands is a Catholic school, owned and conducted by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. We are an independent school, not run by the Catholic Education Office; however, we do work closely with our local colleagues and support the Catholic primary schools throughout the diocese. At Downlands, 58% of our students are Catholic, with another 25% from Christian denominations.
Downlands has over 530 day students, mainly from Toowoomba and Highfields, with families travelling from Pittsworth, Oakey, Millmerran, the Lockyer Valley, Dalby, Clifton, Southbrook, Allora, Greenmount, Nobby, Cambooya, Geham, Crows Nest, Goombungee and Withcott. We also have over 200 boarders with many from rural properties throughout Queensland, northern NSW and NT. Boarding students also come from Papua New Guinea and Asia as well as from city areas such as Brisbane and Sydney.
Downlands is “the school of choice” offering a greater choice of subjects than any other school on the Darling Downs  (Subject Choices).
Submitted by Anna Bartlett Marketing and Development Manager Downlands College 72 Ruthven Street / PO Box 250, Toowoomba 4350 Tel 07 4690 9500   Fax 07 4690 9610
Website: http://www.downlands.qld.edu.au/
Twelve2twentyfive is a verbatim performance piece that focuses on regional young people experiencing mental health issues. With the assistance of regional mental health providers, six regional young people were interviewed to collect verbatim data, which was then translated into the work twelve2twentyfive.
I saw the play the other night and found it to be a very provocative piece. There’s a FREE public performance this Sunday at the Toowoomba Flexi-school and I would encourage anyone who is interested in the mental health and wellbeing of our youth to take the time to get out to the Flexi-school in Chalk Drive, Toowoomba to view this amazing piece of theatre.
Submitted by: Maree Keating Assoc MAPS Positive Futures Psychology Services Suite 4 Friendly Society Building Suites 8 Mylne St Toowoomba Qld 4350 Email:  maree@positivefutures.com.au
The theme of this year’s campaign is “You can give hope where it’s needed most.†Hope means many things. Hope comes from the support of our emergency services team who pull together with the community in times of natural crisis, like bushfires or floods.
Hope comes from providing shelter to women who have experienced domestic violence. Hope comes from the practical and emotional support we give to our farming families so they have the courage to stay on the land and get back on their feet.
Donations from the Australian public help us to keep hope alive for more than one million people each year. On the weekend of 30-31 May 2015, we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our national fundraising Doorknock.
This year’s goal is to raise $74 million so we can continue our work. Each week we provide 100,000 meals for the hungry, 2,000 beds for the homeless, 5,000 food vouchers as well as counselling and addiction services.
Thank you for your assistance with our Red Shield Appeal fundraising campaign to help Australians in need.
Yours sincerely,
Major Bruce Harmer Territorial Communications & Public Relations Secretary Salvation Army
The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is set to conduct another major auction at Toowoomba Hospital this Saturday 2nd May 2015.
Close to 200 lots are on offer, with a Phototherapy/Heating Unit, two dental chairs, Ride-on-mower, cupboards, filing drawers, bedside lockers, stainless steel sinks, fridges and benches plus many more items all to go under the hammer.
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO, Peter Rookas, said this auction, like many before, would be another chock full of interesting items. “As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.“ All funds raised from the auction will be used by the Foundation to purchase much needed equipment for the hospital, which will in turn benefit the community of Toowoomba and Darling Downs.
Inspection of the auction items commences at 8.00am with the auction timed to start at 9.00am. Entrance to the auction site is via the Toowoomba Hospital main entrance in Pechey Street and then follow the signs.
Submitted by: Peter Rookas Toowoomba Hospital Foundation Ph 4616 6166
Teen Challenge Qld are dedicated to seeing young people free from addiction and are seeking donations of household items for their “The Great Big Garage Sale†in Toowoomba on Saturday May 23rd.
But we need your help and your stuff!! That’s right †old toys, clothes, books, furniture, (working) electrical goods, art, manchester †if you have it, we want it!
If you have anything that is in good condition and can be resold, Teen Challenge would love your donation to help make †The Great BIG Garage Sale†a reality.
‘Love Drunk’ a highly entertaining theatre performance that puts sexual assault and binge drinking in the spotlight is coming to Toowoomba.
This performance is brought to the community by Phunktional Limited to entertain and open discussions with young people, their parents and the wider community about issues of binge drinking, sexual assault and racial tension.
When:  Thursday, 30th of April – 6:00pm †8:00pm.
Where: Empire Theatre – 56 Neil Street, Toowoomba
Free refreshments, light supper and entertainment will be provided.
Gerard Veltre (Artistic Director of Phunktional): “The show is a lot of fun, we are performing in schools during the day and decided it would be great to be able to also do a special night time show for parents and the wider community. Whenever we have done this in other parts of Australia the adult audiences have always loved the show and found it really entertaining†Love Drunk Report courtesy of WIN News
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Following the performance, a special panel that includes local teachers, health and legal professionals and the artists will answer community member’s questions about the issues raised in the production; thus helping to bridging the gap between the youth and available services.
The Toowoomba tour is a collaboration between Phunktional Ltd, The John Villiers Trust, The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, Darling Downs Crime Prevention Unit, Head Space, Toowoomba Youth Service and the Empire Theatre.
Australia’s longest running Rock ‘n’ Roll cabaret band ‘The Countdowns’ are about to celebrate 50 years of non-stop entertaining. The event has been finalised and it is expected to be bigger than ever.
The Countdowns 1966
The event will be hosted by none other than Johnny Young, an icon of the Australian entertainment industry and include artists such as Jade Hurley who has been described as a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Liberace; Dennis Knight, four times Queensland’s Entertainer of the Year and an Australian Rock Legend, as well as renowned international singer/songwriter Sue Ray.
The Event is being held on Saturday 25 July 2015 at Rumours International, Toowoomba, Queensland.
It is expected that this event will be a sell out function with many travelling to Toowoomba to attend what could be the last public Countdowns function and therefore the night will be aptly named ‘The Final Countdown’. It is very possible that many are sure to have danced the night away with them, as The Countdowns have travelled extensively throughout Queensland.
The group formed in 1965 by foundation member, Owen Ray who still fronts the band today. Little did he know way back then that a gig at a 21st birthday party would launch them into a successful career and virtual ‘legendary’ status in the Australian entertainment industry?
The Countdowns 2014
Since the ‘60s, The Countdowns have performed with scores of leading Australian and international artists and are somewhat of an Australian phenomenon. To their credit, they have played alongside Australian epic performers such as the great Johnny O’Keefe, John Farnham, Billy Thorpe, The Delltones, the Bee Gees, Masters Apprentices, the Easybeats, Little Pattie, Lonnie Lee, Tony Worsley Ronnie Burns, Russell Morris and the original Platters to name just a few. Obviously The Countdowns are no ordinary rock ’n roll band!
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Toowoomba’s enduring and iconic rock ‘n’ roll band The Countdowns and to acknowledge and pay respect to the sights, sounds and artists who inspired them, an exhibition of British and Australian Pop culture of the 60s called ‘Rolling Shadows’will be presented on the night, for ONE night only.
A vintage car display will greet fans at the door, Aussie-made Vase amps will have a collection of old amps for musos to drool over, and a Rock and Roll dance troupe, in full 50s-60s attire, will mingle with guests on arrival and entertain by performing dance routines throughout the night.
Mark this date in your diary. SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015 Rumours International, Toowoomba. Tickets can be booked through Nunns Music Store, 217 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba (opposite De Lacy’s/formerly Moffatt Hotel) †Phone 4638 1422.
The Countdowns have successfully celebrated their 30th, 40th and 45th anniversary to packed houses. They are about to do it again, this time celebrating their 50th. How many other bands can mark this achievement?
Grab your friends and make the night one big event on your social calendar.
With your help, we can make this year’s event the biggest yet!
