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Fatality Free Friday In Toowoomba

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Fatality Free Friday In Toowoomba

Today, Friday 30th May is Fatality Free Friday. This is a national campaign that has been running for a few years with the aim to have no fatalities on Australian roads for one day. Last year only 3 states managed a Fatality Free Day and Queensland wasn’t one of them.

At 11am today, the Toowoomba Regional Council, Qld Ambulance Service, Qld Fire & Rescue, Dept Main Roads & Transport, Qld Police and a number of Service agencies intend to raise awareness of road safety with a lunchtime event in the Village Green, next to Council Chambers on Ruthven Street, Toowoomba.

There will be a free sausage sizzle and various displays from road safety groups and emergency service vehicles to view and personnel to chat with. It will be formally opened by the Mayor at 12.00, and run till about 2pm.

It’s a prime opportunity for all of us to reacquaint ourselves with the ‘Fatal 5’ (top five causes of road fatalities in this country)

  • Speed
  • Drink/drug driving
  • Fatigue
  • Inattention/distraction
  • Not wearing seatbelts

For more information on the Fatality Free Friday national campaign go to: http://www.fatalityfreefriday.com/

Come and join us for a sausage and a chat and help us. We can’t fix the whole of the state but we can do our bit in our Region to keep people safe on our roads.

Tony Rehn
Crime Prevention Officer
Darling Downs District
Queensland Police Service
Ph 07 4631 6755 Fax 07 4615 3200

Footnote:

Unfortunately the Darling Downs Fatality Free Friday has been marred by the death of a motorist at Felton South.

Police report that around 4pm a B Double and a utility collided at the intersection of Toowoomba-Karara Road and Clifton-Pittsworth Road. The deceased was the driver of the utility which overturned on impact and burst into flames. The truck driver was transported by QAS to Toowoomba Hospital for treatment.

Traffic was diverted via Nobby while the Forensic Crash Unit was conducting their investigation. Anyone with information which could assist in this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers .com.au 24 hours a day.

 

East Creek Park Defenders Rally To Save Parks

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East Creek Park Defenders Rally To Save Parks

Shirley DunsdonHello my name is Shirley Dunsdon. For the past seven months I have been working very hard against the destruction of Toowoomba’s beautiful Garnet Lehmann Park.  Council plan to build a massive 70 mega litre detention basin in this park.  This will result in the destruction of many hundreds of gum  trees, the loss of a wildlife habitat and an amazing social amenity for the Toowoomba community.

A detention basin is also planned for the Ballin Drive Park, this one being 40  mega litres and the loss of up to one hundred trees. Some of the trees at Ballin Drive are very historical to Toowoomba, but the bulldozer awaits them if council gets their way.
DSC01084
Our groups have now joined together and call ourselves The East Creek Park Defenders. We are passionate in the defence of our parks.  This Sunday the 1 June we are holding a protest march to show our strong objection to councils hideous proposals.  These detention basins WILL NOT stop a flood as happened in 2011.

 

Garnet Lehmann Park
The march starts at Ballin Drive at 8.45am then proceeds to Garnet Lehmann  Park to meet other marchers.  At 9.30am we will leave Garnet Lehmann Park and march to World Environment Day at Lake Annand.

Please join us this Sunday the 1st of  June and help us protect our beautiful parks.   
If you wish to contact me my phone number is 0417 740 887.

Submitted by:
Shirley Dunsdon for
East Creek Park Defenders

Toowoomba Mayor Urges Residents To Be Fatality Free On Friday May 30

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Toowoomba Mayor Urges Residents To Be Fatality Free On Friday May 30

The Darling Downs recorded 36 deaths on its roads in 2013 and 20 in 2012, 12 people have died on roads across the Darling Downs so far this year. At this time last year the region had experienced 14 deaths on its way to one of the highest regional road tolls in the State, yet in 2011 the region had recorded just two deaths during the same period. So what has changed?

Mayor Paul AntonioCMayor Paul AntonioCMayor Paul AntonioCMayor Paul AntonioCMayor Paul AntonioCMayor Paul Antonio“There are so many factors that contribute to the road toll,” Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said. “Speed, fatigue, not driving to the road conditions, driver behaviours … so many of these are out of our control.”

“What we can control is our own behaviour on the roads,” he said. “On Friday I want everyone in the region to think carefully before they get in their car … ‘I am going to take extra care on this trip’ and then follow it up by doing exactly that.”

Cr Antonio said statistics show that Fridays are the worst day for fatal accidents. “Nearly a quarter of deaths (21%) on our roads in our region occur on a Friday,” Cr Antonio said. “Stopping people dying on our roads cannot be achieved by one group or individual †we need all our residents to be involved and make a stand.”

Cr Antonio supplied his own list of road ‘rules’ for the region’s residents.

Please:

  • Take extra care on the roads
  • Put your lights on for safety
  • Follow the road rules
  • Do not speed
  • Do not drink and drive
  • Take care at level crossings
  • Slow down in the wet and drive to suit the conditions
  • Do not tailgate other drivers and look as far ahead as possible
  • Wear your seatbelt
  • Do not use your mobile phone while driving
  • Set a good example by driving calmly and safely
  • Take care as a pedestrian when crossing the road or street

“Fatality Free Friday is more than just a single day. Yes, the target is to have a fatality free Friday, but ultimately the aim is for a longer term community change in regards to driver behavior and attitudes on the road,” he said.

Toowoomba Regional Council will team with the Department of Main Roads and Transport and Emergency Services personnel to raise awareness of road safety with an information session and free sausage sizzle on the Village Green next to Council Chambers in Ruthven Street from 12 noon to 2pm on Friday May 30th.

Submitted by:
Chris Leslight
Communications officerStakeholder Engagement & Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council

USQ Reflects On Sorry Day & National Reconciliation Week

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USQ Reflects On Sorry Day & National Reconciliation Week

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) community will gather this week to remember the Stolen Generations and celebrate Australia’s steps towards reconciliation.  Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas has invited all staff and students to attend the University’s events for National Sorry Day (May 26) and National Reconciliation Week (May 28).

National Sorry Day has been held since 1998 and provides the chance for people to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. USQ will be screening Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology and staff and students will speak on what National Sorry Day means to them.  The event will be followed by a sit down lunch with Indigenous Elders, invited USQ staff and students, and key members of the wider community.

National Reconciliation Week marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history.  The 1967 referendum saw over 90 percent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.

The week also recognises the High Court of Australia landmark Mabo decision, which legally recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ special relationship to the land. This year USQ will celebrate the week in the newly established Gumbi Gumbi Gardens with dance performances, a presentation on USQ’s approach to reconciliation and opportunities to hear stories from indigenous elders.

What: National Sorry Day USQ event
When:Monday, May 26, 2014, 12.00pm to 1.00pm
Where: USQ Refectory (R Block), USQ Toowoomba

What:National Reconciliation Week USQ evenT
When:Wednesday, May 28, 2014, 12.00pm to 2.00pm
Where: Gumbi Gumbi Gardens, USQ Toowoomba

USQ acknowledges the Giabal and Jarowair of Toowoomba; the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul of Springfield; and the Butchulla of Fraser Coast; traditional owners of the lands where each USQ campus is located.

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney
University of Southern Queensland
Toowoomba

Jondaryan Monitoring Confirms Coal Health Fears

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Jondaryan Monitoring Confirms Coal Health Fears

Residents of Jondaryan now have on-line access to hourly pollution readings, after more than three years lobbying by the community groups Oakey Coal Action Alliance (OCAA) and Clean Air Queensland (CAQ), their members and supporters.

OCAA President John Cook said the group had contacted local MPs, medical organisations, Toowoomba Regional Council, the Queensland Premier and the Prime Minister about the need for monitoring.
Air Quality Jondaryan
A monitor was eventually installed in March at a site in Jondaryan on the Darling Downs. Mr Cook said the high readings for particulate matter (PM 10) and total suspended particles (TSP) at Jondaryanvindicated their unrelenting opposition to the New Hope Coal company and its practices.

Elevated readings were well above the Australian Standard of 80ug/m3 for TSP and 50 ug/m3 for PM 10. The most prevalent sources of air pollution at Jondaryan are from coal dust and diesel use, such as from the trains and bulldozers operating. In December last year a study by CAQ showed peak pollution as high as 6000ug/m3 Jondaryan2.

“It was crystal clear to us that governments have been more concerned about the revenue from mining than they are about health implications to communities close to mines or transport corridors,” Mr Cook said.

New Hope Coal is currently seeking approval by the Queensland Government for a Stage 3 expansion of the Acland mine that residents say will compound all the current impacts including blast tremors, noise and coal dust pollution.

Spokesperson for CAQ, Michael Kane, said New Hope’s coal mining and handling methods were far from ‘best practice’. “The results prove coal stockpiles and train wagons should be covered and coal dumps should be located many kilometres from homes,” he said.

 

“Veneering is just a hairspray for coal and it is not working. We have shown coal dust levels are extreme. This disregard of communities on the Darling Downs or along the rail corridor to the Port of Brisbane is especially outrageous at a time the medical profession is telling us with increased urgency about the serious health impacts of coal.”

Hourly Jondaryan Air Quality Measurements

Submitted by:
Qld Lock the Gate
OCAA-John Cook 0428 911 643
Clean Air Queensland – Michael Kane 0438 766 230

Students To Perform For Drought Appeal

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Students To Perform For Drought Appeal

I think it is pretty amazing that 18 local high schools are coming together to create this community event and raise funds for the Lifeline Drought Appeal.

Performances by the school students will include five vocal ensembles, a vocal soloist, three big bands, a concert band, two rock groups, a mixed ensemble, a saxophone quartet, two orchestras and two dance troupes. It’s certainly shaping to be a great variety concert which will have appeal across all age groups.
DD SS Drought Buster Community Concert 2014Tickets can also be purchased through The Empire Theatre website http://www.empiretheatre.com.au/

Submitted by:
Suzie Washington
Manager Marketing and Fundraising
Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd
E swashington@lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au

 

PhotoVoice – Focus on Domestic Violence

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PhotoVoice – Focus on Domestic Violence

DV_PhotoVoice

Apthorpe Farm Market Place Invites You To The Artists/Growers Charity Auction Night

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Apthorpe Farm Market Place Invites You To The Artists/Growers Charity Auction Night

Come along for a funfilled night on Friday 23rd May to raise all important funds for children suffering from Heart Disease (Fundraising for Heartkids Qld). Our local artists & growers have kindly donated a piece of their work or produce and they will be auctioned off by well known local Elders Real Estate Agent Ashley North.

belted bullToowoomba Home brewers are coming to keep the boys happy and some nice wine from Gowan Brae Estate at Inglewood for the ladies and some bubbly if you need it.  I am overwhelmed at the things that have been donated , we have a range of paintings from local artists, massages, facials, cookbooks, soaps, quilts, just to name a few, some special slaves will appear and also some mystery auction items, craftwork, fresh produce and gourmet goodies for auction all kindly donated by our local residents. Look what we have to auction, a lovely 2 year old bull (belted galloway called ” Pinch & Punch”) how cute a good lawnmower kindly donated by Ben Somerset and his family at Geham.

We will have complimentary wine, beer & softdrinks and you can purchase hot soup and ribbon sandwiches for your dinner. Kids can enjoy a sausage sizzle, lollies and face painting while mum and dad can enjoy music kindly performed by local artists Mosaic (the Hobson Family).
Apthorpe Farm Market PlaceWe would not only like to introduce you to our local artists but invite you to explore our new shop”Apthorpe Farm Market Place”. We stock a range of local and Australian produce, we have a fabulous range of local giftware, paintings, craftwork, we have a wonderful local lady Jess who does Thai Massage and come and see Fiona’s creations of beautiful handmade girls clothing, crocheted hats, scarves, and her handmade roses that can be
ordered for races, weddings etc…

Purchases can be made on the night or you can just explore and come back with all of your friends at a later date.
If you are a business that would like to donate any items for our Auction we would gladly appreciate it. Items can be dropped in at the store at 10511 New England Highway, Highfields (Red house near Highfields Road traffic lights).

Our baby son William who we lost at six weeks was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Heartkids is a charity very close to my heart and our shop is a way of me giving something back to those who helped us when we needed it. I would like you all to join us at Apthorpe Farm Market Place. I appreciate your support and look forward to meeting you all on the night!

Leonie Brassey
Business Owner †Apthorpe Farm Market Place
Phone 4615 4978

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