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Flood Reconstruction Of Dalby Area Roads And Highways In 2014

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Following consecutive summers of damage to our road network across Queensland, several roads in the Darling Downs region were affected by flooding and heavy rainfall in early 2013.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads advises additional flood reconstruction works will be undertaken on the Bunya and Moonie Highways, and Dalby Cooyar Road. A section the Bunya Highway repairs will be located in Dalby, between North and Horace Street intersections.

During these works, some temporary changes to driveway access will be required; the project team will notify residents affected by any changes in advance. These works in the town of Dalby are expected to commence the week starting 12 May 2014 and take up to two weeks to complete.

Following these repairs, the following package of works will be delivered in the Dalby area, delivering 5.6km of pavement and culvert repairs.
Moonie Highway, starting near Fowlers Road and extending south for 2km
Bunya Highway, near the intersection with Pirrinuan-Malakoff Road
Dalby-Cooyar Road, 3km east of the intersection with the Bunya Highway
Dalby-Cooyar Road, between the intersections with Mallings Road and Pechey-Maclagan Road, east of Kaimkillenbun.
This works package is expected be completed by November 2014, weather permitting.

These works will require lane closures and changes to traffic conditions. Motorists should drive to the changed conditions and obey all signage for their own safety and the safety of road workers. Restrictions may be in place for operators of oversized and heavy vehicles. Conditions are available from the Heavy Vehicle Industry Road Report, which can be viewed online through the 13 19 40 Traffic and Travel Information website at www.131940.qld.gov.au or on calling 13 19 40.

For more information on flood-related roadworks in the Darling Downs area, contact TMR on 1800 063 397 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday or email reconstruct_darlingdowns@tmr.qld.gov.au. Alternatively, you can contact the Queensland Government’s 24/7 number 13QGOV (137468).
You can also visit the Reconstructing Darling Downs page on the Department of Transport and Main Roads web site for more information on the full range of flood-reconstruction projects.

Eligible reconstruction works on this project will be funded under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. Under these arrangements, the Australian Government provides up to 75 per cent of the funding, with 25 per cent from the Queensland Government.

National Volunteers Week 12-18 May 2014

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National Volunteers Week 12-18 May 2014
Lifeline Darling Downs and S W Queensland Staff and Volunteers
Lifeline Darling Downs and S W Queensland Staff and Volunteers

Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Limited in conjunction with Lifeline Australia are proud to be a part of National Volunteers Week 2014. National Volunteers Week is where the efforts of Volunteers are recognised, not only for their assistance with the programs that Lifeline Darling Downs and other organisations coordinate, but also the power that their work has in the community.

National Volunteers Week recognises the efforts of Lifeline Darling Downs Volunteers with nearly 400 volunteers, working in our retail stores, at events such as Bookfest and many others that are run through the community. It also recognises the efforts of the volunteers who put their own worries and concerns aside when natural disaster strikes, often leaving their own devastated homes to help others rebuild or clean up theirs.

It is time we recognise their achievements and raise the awareness about the excellent work these people are doing.

Being a Lifeline Volunteer isn’t just about getting out there and asking for donations, it is about helping out at National, Regional and Local events; it is working in the retail stores or on the distribution centre floor, organising the clothes, books, and home wares; it is about being able to help in any way you can.

According to Volunteer Australia (www.volunteeraustralia.org) the average age group for volunteers in Australia  in 2010 was 45-54 years . Of the 6.1 million volunteers, registered in 2010, 593,700 people were aged 18-24. This means that young people are more and more becoming a part of the volunteering community. *

Why not become a part of this great effort by so many Australians and volunteer today or donate to www.lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au/  .

*Volunteering Australia, 2010, “Volunteering Facts”, http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/research-and-advocacy/the-latest-picture-of-volunteering-in-australia/ .

Submitted by:
Suzie Washington
Manager Marketing and Fundraising
Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd
192a Stephen Street, Toowoomba Qld 4350
Email: swashington@lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au

Guarded Reaction To Federal Budget By Vice-Chancellor

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Guarded Reaction To Federal Budget By Vice-Chancellor

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas has cautiously accepted changes to higher education in the Federal Government’s 2014-15 budget handed down last night (May 13).

Professor Jan ThomasSpeaking from Canberra, Professor Thomas said the budget brought with it a number of challenges balanced with changes that could open up more study opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and low socio-economic regions.

Professor Thomas said while a clearer picture of the higher education landscape will become known over coming days, this budget will see students paying more for their education, the prospect for universities to compete more openly with their course cost structures, and the current demand driven enrolment system continued.

Professor Thomas said she was guarded about the Government’s decision to deregulate student fees from 2016. “This is a decision that should be met with close collaboration and input from the higher education sector to ensure the outcomes don’t discourage student enrolment or reduce Government support for universities,” she said.

Professor Thomas welcomed the Government’s decision to retain the demand driven university system. “Since the Government lifted its quota system on university enrolments many first in family and people from low socio-economic regions have been enabled to attend tertiary education,” she said.

However, Professor Thomas was concerned about Government initiatives that may discourage potential students. “We must continue to support future students who may struggle to enter the university system without support,” she said. “Creating obstacles, such as pressure to increase fees and a higher student contribution to HECS-debt, has the risk of forcing out a number of vulnerable students more than capable of completing a university education.”

Professor Thomas called on the Federal Government to invest in higher education in regional Australia following changes to assistance schemes. “With initiatives like ‘earn or learn’ and raising the eligibility criteria of youth assistance programs, regional Australia will be impacted by forcing residents to move to larger centres for employment opportunities,” she said.
Submitted by
Dr Aidan Burke,
USQ Corporate Communications,
aidan.burke@usq.edu.au

Walk In Queens Park Toowoomba To Fight Animal Cruelty

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Walk In Queens Park Toowoomba To Fight Animal Cruelty

rspca-mpw-qld
Australia’s Biggest & Best Dog Event – Million Paws Walk on Sunday 18th May

More than 20,000 people and their dogs will walk in Queensland to show their support for animals in need on Sunday 18th May.  Will you join them on the walk to help stop animal cruelty? If possible, register for the Million Paws Walk before Friday 16th May.

Funds raised from registrations, merchandise sales and fundraising pages, will help to provide essential care, veterinary treatment, food and shelter for more than 18,000 dogs that RSPCA Qld cares for each year.

Sign up today to help give another dog a second chance at a happy life.  To Register Click Here

Regardless of the breed, size or age of your dog – everyone is welcome – as long as they are fully vaccinated, friendly and registered with your local council. No four legged friend? No problem!  You can book a canine friend (limited number) by phoning RSPCA  Toowoomba on 4634 1304 before Friday 16th. Even those without pooches are welcome to join in the fun.

Last minute registrations will take place from 9am in Queens Park, Toowoomba on Sunday May 18, and the Million Paws Walk will commence from 10am. There will also be 10-12 animal related stands on site, and volunteers from the local RSPCA Animal Shelter will be running a sausage sizzle and drinks will be available.

RSPCA Supporters
Register online before 16th May to take advantage of ticket price savings…and then start fundraising to help fight animal cruelty! 

Sir Tony Robinson In Toowoomba For Tour Of Duty

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Tour of Duty FilmingBritish actor, historian and television host Sir Tony Robinson was at the Mothers’ Memorial in Toowoomba on Sunday 11th May for a  new historical series that will commemorate a century of war service by Australians and New Zealanders.

Sir Tony RobinsonBest known these days as presenter of  the archaeology program Time Team, Sir Tony is also remembered for his role as Baldrick in the hit 1980s TV comedy series Blackadder.

He was surrounded by fans and onlookers at a special community event as filming of some of the scenes for the Toowoomba episode of  Tour of Duty took place on the steps of the Mothers’ Memorial.

The Toowoomba Caledonian Pipe Band and members of the 11th Light Horse also took part in the proceedings, there were food and other marquees nearby, and the Toowoomba Local History Library and Oakey Museum of Australian Army Aviation exhibited First World War displays.

Tour of Duty focuses on the lives of the people who went to war and those who stayed at home, both heroes and ordinary people †and what the war meant to them then and now.
Tour of Duty Event
Sir Tony and his production team will spend a total of 5 days in the Garden City. They are also visiting  (or have visited)  Launceston, Ballarat, Dunedin, Auckland, Hahndorf, Bathurst, Newcastle, Darwin and Fremantle in addition to Toowoomba. Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty will be a 10-part series to be screened on Foxtel’s History Channel  in early 2015.

Breast Cancer Journey Shared By USQ Staffer

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Breast Cancer Journey Shared By USQ Staffer

The University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) Dr Eliza Whiteside, a breast cancer researcher and survivor, will share her story at the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic this weekend (May 11).

The event involves a 3km walk or a 6km run, starting and ending at Lake Annand Park, Toowoomba, from 7:30am. The event raises funds for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Dr_Eliza_Whiteside
Twelve years ago, at the age of 28, Dr Whiteside was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer despite no family history of the disease. Thanks to an experimental treatment developed by breast cancer researchers, Dr Whiteside survived the cancer and now uses her personal story to raise awareness and funds to support breast cancer research in Australia.

The ordeal also led Dr Whiteside to re-focus her own research to seeking ways to prevent cancer and improve survival by investigating the interactions between genes and environmental factors that drive hormone levels in the body. Dr Whiteside currently works in the USQ Office of Research, Research and Innovation Division as Manager for Research Integrity and Ethics.

As a regular guest speaker at cancer fundraising events across Australia, Dr Whiteside emphasises the importance and outcomes of funding breast cancer research. “If the research that led to my life-saving treatment hadn’t been funded then I would not be here now and my children would not have their mother,” she said.

“My story has a happy ending but there are many out there who are facing breast cancer at the moment and many more who have lost a loved one to the disease.  There are different types of breast cancer and the treatment that worked for me would not necessarily be effective for other types – this is why more research is needed.

“My experience changed my approach to research as I had a new appreciation of its value. Research can save lives and improve society but research is costly and it needs money to continue to move forward.”

Dr Whiteside said her current role at USQ allows her to have a much broader impact on improving lives through research. “Having someone with my background in the Research and Innovation Division will better assist researchers with navigating the research process and will ultimately enhance the impressive research already taking place at USQ,” she said.

To learn more about the Mother’s Day Classic go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au. For more information about research at USQ visit www.usq.edu.au/research.

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney
Email: rhianwen.whitney@usq.edu.au

Heritage Bank Offers A Sizzler Of A Fundraising Deal

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Toowoomba CBD workers can leave their lunch at home (Friday, 9th May) with Heritage Bank running a charity fundraising barbeque outside its Plaza Branch in the city centre.

Sausages and burgers will be sizzling to raise funds for Heritage’s teams in the Queensland Cancer Council’s Relay for Life, which talks place at the Toowoomba Showgrounds on 17-19 May.

Customers will also be able to snag a ticket in a multi-draw raffle with prizes valued at more than $2000.

The barbeque will be run by Heritage staff in the city centre at 400 Ruthven Street from 11am until 2pm.

Prices start at $2.50 for a sausage with onions and sauce on a piece of bread, $3.50 for a hamburger patty with onions on bread;  $2 for a soft drink or bottle of water, or the special “meal deal” combos of a sausage burger & drink for $4, or a hamburger & drink for $5.

Heritage Bank is a long-time supporter of the Relay for Life, with CEO Mr John Minz the patron of the Toowoomba event in 2012 and 2013.

Submitted by:
Andrew Fox
Manager Corporate Communications
Heritage Bank

Who Do You Think You Are?

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imgcta12Are you a true Aussie battler, too cool for school or does status matter in your neighbourhood?

Helix Personas, a clever new online profiling tool, has classified Australia’s entire population into 56 different personas and mapped where they live down to the street and house number. Anyone can now type an address into  http://www.helixpersonas.com.au/  to find a highly detailed profile of the type of people likely to be living there †giving house hunters a free sneak peek at their potential neighbours.

Developed by leading research company Roy Morgan Research, Helix Personas combine the results of hundreds of thousands of comprehensive personal surveys with best-of-breed mapping technology from MapData Services (MDS), to produce multi-dimensional insights into how †and where †all types of Australians live. 

MDS geo-data guru Cassandra Barker said the profiles are the result of decades of research by Roy Morgan into people’s attitudes, beliefs, values, aspirations, confidence levels and consumption patterns.  “Creating personas linked to geography is a fascinating way of viewing the encyclopaedic socio-demographic data that’s been collected by Roy Morgan over the past 70 years,” Ms Barker said. 

“Mapping this incredible pool of data has created a colourful patchwork of personalities †and revealed all the unique and wonderful Australian characteristics that are the fabric of our society. 

“It’s a potent and vital tool for any business looking to better understand and target current and potential customers †but it’s also a fun tool for the general public. “Now if you’re asked, ‘how well do you know your neighbour’ †you can find the answer with just a click of your mouse!”

The 56 Helix Personas are grouped into seven communities which range from high-income ‘Leading Lifestyles’ to doing-it-tough Aussie ‘Battlers’. For example, in the ‘Leading Lifestyles’ community is the ‘Status Matters’ persona †typically young families who are tech-savvy, fashionable and have expensive tastes (but still enjoy scoring a bargain!).

The fictional person depicted is a high income sales manager addicted to shopping and designer clothing, who may have bought a new house partly to get the first homebuyer grant. The statistics reveal they buy stylish sports cars to commute to work and large SUVs for the weekend. 

At the other end of the scale in the ‘Battlers’ community are the ‘Coupon Cutters’ who fight hard to make ends meet. They may: have limited education; be unemployed; enjoy gardening and playing the pokies; shop at Kmart and Bunnings; and eat out at McDonald’s McCafe. 

Helix Program Manager John Ellenberger said while the program was designed to enable businesses to better understand, target and communicate with their customers, everyone is able to check out their own profile just by typing in their address. “Helix Personas has streamlined demographic profiling by clustering 20-odd million unique Australians into seven recognisable communities and 56 relevant, usable personas”, Mr Ellenberger said.

“It reveals fascinating insights into behaviours and habits that would have otherwise remained hidden, so Australian businesses can more accurately segment their customers by their behaviours, attitudes and core beliefs”.  “For instance, when we examined the ‘Status Matters’ persona †with high income and a desire for the latest fashions and technologies but with no intention of paying full price †we found they are much more likely than the average Australian to peruse David Jones catalogues, but unlikely to actually shop there.”

Mr Ellenberger said users are often surprised by the accuracy and depth of the persona described after submitting nothing but a home address—whether it’s their own or that of a neighbour, friend, colleague or perhaps even a potential love interest.
“We are encouraging people to come and take a look and have a bit of fun with it.” The profile overviews and statistics can be accessed on the website for free at www.helixpersonas.com.au
Submitted by:
Daniel Lato 
Media Liaison
MapData Services
dan.lato@mapdataservices.com
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