Greg Johnson, CEO Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce says “It is now history that the Chamber’s first foray into street markets with City Heart Toowoomba (CHT) was an overwhelming success with an estimated 25,000 people attending and many stallholders selling out after the first hour of trade. Gratifying for the Chamber and CHT was the absolute delight shown by the shopkeepers who opened for the day. And it wasn’t only in Margaret Street where trade was unprecedented, that activity also extended well into Ruthven Street.
Bigger And Better Toowoomba CBD Markets Back On Sunday May 4th
High Court Judge To Present Talk At USQ
Justice Patrick Keane, one of the present judges on the High Court of Australia, will present a talk at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) on Wednesday, 306th April as part of the 2014 Shine Lawyers Public Lecture Series.
Justice Keane will share his first-hand knowledge and experience during his presentation  Reflections of the Separation of Powers.
Justice Keane has previously served as Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, the Solicitor-General for Queensland and as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in March last year.
Head of School (Law and Justice) Reid Mortensen said he was thrilled to have Justice Keane talk at USQ. “I’m very excited to have such an eminent and respected High Court judge come to Toowoomba,†he said. “I’ve heard Justice Keane talk many times before and he’s a very, very interesting speaker who’s punchy and witty.”
“He will discuss the separation of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers in Australia which, as a judge of the High Court, is a topic he has vast knowledge and experience in. The High Court is the final arbiter of how governmental powers are separated meaning there aren’t many people who can talk about the topic with such authority.â€Â
Justice Keane’s presentation will be held at the Allison Dickson Lecture Theatre from 6pm to 7pm (April 30). Light refreshments will be served from 5.30pm.
To RSVP a place in the free presentation, contact paula.dekeyzer@usq.edu.au
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ANZAC Display At Highfields Community Sports Club
The local community has been generous in loaning memorabilia for display for ANZAC Day, 2014. Conceived by Highfields Community Sports Club manager Steve Lean, the display has been arranged by ex-servicemen Clarrie Stjernquist, Bill Mason and Anthony Lund. It’s well worth seeing! Some of the features are a portrait photograph of Australia’s first indigenous commissioned officer, Captain Reg Saunders MBE, a BSA despatch riders motor cycle and a rare, original Camel Corps bugle.
Australia Post Honours World War I Centenary
As Australians prepare to commemorate Anzac Day, Australia Post has released the first stamp issue in a five-year series designed to tell the chronological story of our nation’s involvement in World War I. Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate 100 years since WWI, a conflict which helped to define our country.
As the organisation that helped deliver precious letters between WWI soldiers and home, Australia Post is intrinsically linked to the Anzacs, a connection which it hopes to honour through this commemorative stamp issue.
“During the next five years of commemoration we hope to join all Australians in honouring the contribution made by Anzacs and hope that these stamps serve as a symbol of our appreciation to those who made the ultimate sacrifice,†said Michael Zsolt, Manager Philatelic, Australia Post.
Each of the five stamp issues has been developed in conjunction with the Australian War Memorial to encompass key events, battles and individuals relevant to each year of the centenary. Dr Brendan Nelson, Director, Australian War Memorial, says that the centenary stamp issue complements the War Memorial’s planned centenary activity.
“Through our centenary commemorations we hope to encourage Australians, young and old, to reflect upon and learn more about Australia’s military history. These stamps are a brilliant visual representation of Australia’s involvement in World War I, but more importantly, each tells a significant story that we can learn from and be proud of,” said Dr Nelson.
This 2014 stamp issue marks Australia’s involvement in the first months of war, with five domestic base-rate (70c) stamps entitled:
 War Declared! ! †Volunteers queuing to enlist in Sydney.
 Australians i n Action †The seizure of German New Guinea †the first action in which Australians were involved.
 Troops Depart †The enthusiasm of new recruits as they departed for Europe.
 Training Mena Camp †Australians with a mascot at Egypt’s Mena Camp.
 Our Boys †Three unknown soldiers in a studio portrait, representing the tens of thousands of young men who fought in a war half a world away.
The WWI centenary stamp issue comprises a minisheet, stamp pack, first day cover, maxicards, medallion cover, booklet of 10 x 70c self-adhesive stamps and two postal and numismatic covers. The stamps and associated products are available from participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps from 22 April 2014 while stocks last.
Food, Glorious Felton Valley Food Celebrated At Festival
 The Felton District is just 30kms south-west of Toowoomba and is a picturesque part of the Darling Downs. Felton boasts magnificent scenery, clean air, rich fertile black soils and a climate which enables them to grow food crops all year round.
Felton produces a wide variety of crops including wheat, barley, chickpeas, mung beans, sunflowers, lettuce, cabbages, beetroot, celery and onions. It is also home to significant production of beef, lamb, pork, poultry, dairy and eggs.
The ‘Felton Food Festival’ is a great day out for all ages with plenty to eat, see and do. The third Food Festival is to be held on Sunday 27th April, 2014 (from 9am-4pm) and it promises to be even bigger and better than previous years.
The plots of different seed crops proved of great interest last year and this year they will be harvested as well (weather permitting), while celebrities Alastair McLeod and Costa Giorgiadis will surprise us again with their food preparation and gardening exploits. .A children’s art competition is also planned for the 2014 Festival and musical entertainment will happen throughout the day.
Free buses will run from Toowoomba as well as organised bus tours from Brisbane. Click here to find out more about Stonesteet’s Coaches timetable.
The organisers are dedicated to keeping the Felton Food Festival both entertaining and affordable for everyone.
For more details visit www.feltonfoodfestival.org.au
Submitted by:
Sally McCreath
Committee Member
Felton Food Festival
A Toowoomba Art Gallery Worth Knowing About
Judy James, Director of the Wilsonton Community Gallery reports the Gallery is doing amazingly well, all run by volunteers.
From 22nd April to the end of the month, a large triptich art work on canvas, 3 metres long entitled “Galaxy 1†will be on display at the Gallery. “Galaxy 1†has been created by Toowoomba artist, Judith Emmerson James for clients in Melbourne.
New Tuesday art classes are starting in this school term. with many of the classes being run by art teachers in the studio space at the rear of the gallery on weekdays.
All art works in the gallery are by local artists and many are offering a discount on their art works for Mother’s Day gifts, with reasonable prices for all works, and laybys available.
The gallery has been acclaimed by all who come to view – some 900 visitors in three months, as being the first and only community gallery on the western side of Toowoomba, supporting local artists with interesting and changing exhibitions.
The Gallery, which is a community project sponsored by the Toowoomba Regional Council, is located in Wilsonton Shopping Centre, next to the NAB.  Find the Wilsonton Community Gallery on Facebook
Submitted by:
Judy James
Wilsonton Community Gallery