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The Queensland Regional, Rural and Remote Women’s Network (QRRRWN) is celebrating this year’s International Day of Rural Women (IDRW) in Toowoomba on Monday 14th October with a panel forum and luncheon at Gip’s Restaurant, Toowoomba, and the launch of an ebook celebrating QRRRWN’s 20th anniversary.

IDRW celebrates the role of women in rural areas worldwide and recognises their achievements and contribution to agriculture and development and QRRRWN is launching Looking Forward, Looking Back”, a collection of inspirational stories by rural, regional and remote women across Australia. Created through a competition, run by Writers Web, to celebrate the QRRRWN’s milestone birthday, the winner of the ‘most inspirational story’ will be announced on the day. Entries were received in fiction and non-fiction categories and judges announced the shortlisted entries at the annual QRRRWN conference in Blackall in September.

Organiser Sarah Fea says that the event is a fantastic way to bring rural women together. QRRRWN is a wonderful organisation that enables women from all over Queensland to connect and it is events like these that provide us with the chance to celebrate our members,” she said. It’s important that we recognise International Day of Rural Women and I can’t think of a better way than to launch a book conceived and written by inspiring rural women.”

The theme Looking Forward, Looking Back” is very appropriate for QRRRWN’s 20th year as we look forward to plan our future achievements and celebrate how far we and all those before us have come,” Ms Fea said. We also have a panel of prominent and high-achieving rural women to speak and inspire guests, which is a great opportunity for networking and learning.”

On the panel are author, mentor and speaker Elizabeth Gillam; agribusiness leader Elizabeth Lobsey; journalist Alice Gorman and Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development, Dr. Retha Wiesner. The panel will be interviewed by ABC Rural journalist Cassie Hough.

All are welcome to attend the luncheon at Gip’s Restaurant, Toowoomba on Monday 14th October from 11am to 2pm. The price is $55 for QRRRWN members and $65 for non-members and includes a two-course lunch and a complementary drink on arrival.

Bookings can be made at www.qrrrwnonline.wildapricot.org or by phoning 1300 795 571.

With 2,645 visits counted across 17 buildings the first ever Toowoomba Open House proved a great success for local residents and visitors alike.

Everyone involved deserves a big

THANK YOU!

Here are the stats for the day
Aspect Offices 101
Burke & Wills Hotel 100
Chandler House/theGrid 63
Chiselhurst Kindergarten 87
Empire Theatre 311
Masonic Centre 382
Redlands at Concordia 181
Royal Bull’s Head Inn 279
St Luke’s Church & Hall 166
St Matthew’s Church 61
Toowoomba Grammar School 186
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery 68
Council Customer Service Centre 48
Toowoomba City Hall 350
UQ Boyce Estate 153
UQ Rural Clinical School 83
USQ Refectory 26
Don’t forget some buildings were only open a short time.

Where did our visitors come from?
Loads from Queensland
A few from interstate – NSW, Victoria mostly but also SA, WA
Quite a few New Zealanders too
UK including Nottingham and London
South Korea
Germany

The first ever Toowoomba Open House was a great success.
Keep your eye on our Facebook page for more detail in the near future.

Help us compile our stats properly!
Please email volunteer@toowoombaopenhouse.com.au
to volunteer your time & skills in this area.

Our mailing address is:
Toowoomba Open House
Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Australia

Three generations of the Mabo family applauded as the University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) Gumbi Gumbi Gardens were officially declared open Tuesday, October 8th.

Bonita Mabo, wife of late Indigenous land rights activist Eddie Mabo, her daughter and granddaughters joined community and business leaders, including many Aboriginal elders, for the ceremony at USQ Toowoomba.

The official opening included a rock laying and smoking ceremony and performances from internationally renowned novelist and poet, Herb Wharton; country music artists Roger Knox and Troy Cassar-Daley; and the Kooma Didgeri Dance Troupe.

It was really great to be here to enjoy this moment with the University,” Mrs Mabo said. To see something like the Gumbi Gumbi Gardens is wonderful and I think this kind of thing is needed at all universities. It’s not just something for Indigenous people to enjoy, but for everyone to enjoy together.”

The Gardens cover approximately 2.2 hectares of land adjacent to the northern side of the University main entrance and features extensive plantings of Indigenous flora used by the local Aboriginal communities. It also includes a number of small and large teaching spaces infused into the overall character of the development.USQ Vice-Chancellor

Professor Jan Thomas said it was an honour to have three generations of the Mabo family at the official opening of the Gardens.

We’re really thrilled to have Mrs Mabo’s support and indeed some of the artworks in the Gardens were done by her granddaughters,” Professor Thomas said. The Mabos were pivotal in changing the face of Australia and in progressing reconciliation – their contribution to Australian history is profound. To have the endorsement of someone so significant to the history of reconciliation is very special to USQ.”

Professor Thomas said the Gumbi Gumbi Gardens celebrate the link between Australia’s traditional custodians and the land and plants they used for food and medicine for centuries. These Gardens are a chance for locals and visitors to understand and appreciate the heritage of our district,” she said. They are also a visual symbol of USQ’s commitment to reconciliation and an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to move forward together.”

The Gardens have been designed in close partnership with Historical Elders from Toowoomba and Elders of the Jarowair People, the traditional custodians of the land on which USQ Toowoomba resides.

Submitted by:
Rhianwen Whitney

On October 6 2013, the inaugural Toowoomba Open House celebrates our local historic attractions, innovative architectural design and clever adaptive reuse of heritage treasures with buildings such as the Empire Theatre, City Hall, UQ Rural Clinical School, St Luke’s Church and the Masonic Centre open free to the public.

Co-ordinator and architect Stephanie Keays says “Toowoomba Open House is a free-of-charge event that opens the doors of public and private buildings and places of architectural, historical and/or environmental significance. The event has run successfully in Brisbane for three years, Maryborough for one year and for many years in various international cities including London, New York, Dublin and Melbourne to name a few”.

With so many buildings open visitors will be spoilt for choice.

Aspect Architects & Project Managers Offices, 2A Taylor Street 10am to 3.00pm
Burke & Wills Hotel, (formerly Lennons), 554 Ruthven Street, 10am to 4.00pm
Chandler House TheGrid, 488 Ruthven Street, 11.00am to 1.00pm
Chiselhurst Kindergarten, 12 Stonehaven Street, 10am to 2.00pm
Empire Theatre, 56 Neil Street, 10am to 2.00pm
Masonic Centre Neil Street, 58 Neil Street, 10am to 4.00pm
Redlands Concordia Lutheran College, 154 Stephen Street, 9.00am to 12.00noon
Royal Bull’s Head Inn, Brisbane Street Drayton, 10am to 4.00pm
St Luke’s Church and Hall, 152 Herries Street, 11.30am to 3.30pm
St Matthew’s Church, Glennie & Beatrice, 12.00noon to 4.00pm
Toowoomba City Hall, 541 Ruthven Street, 10am to 4.00pm
Toowoomba Grammar Old Hall & Museum, 24 Margaret Street, 10am to 4.00pm
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, 531 Ruthven Street, 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Toowoomba Regional Council Customer Service Centre, 4 Little Street, 10am to 3.30pm
UQ Boyce Estate Gardens, 6 Range Street, 9.00am to 4.00pm
UQ Rural Clinical School, 152 West Street, 10.00am to 1.00pm
USQ Refectory, West Street or Baker Street 10.00am to 4.00pm

Download program and map

Residents, visitors, families, design buffs, architecture fans, heritage enthusiasts – absolutely anyone who is curious about Toowoomba’s unique places – is invited to explore great contemporary, historic and sustainable buildings and spaces.

Visit Toowoomba Open House on Facebook

Wildlife and human life will be the winners when community members plant trees at two bushland reserves in the Toowoomba region in October.

Environmental Health, Parks and Recreation portfolio leader Cr Sue Englart welcomes the opportunity for members of the public to actively contribute to the revival and improvement of the two reserves.

The first will be at Peacehaven Botanic Park at 56 Kuhls Rd, Highfields on Saturday, October 5.

Council is joining with the Toowoomba Landcare Group and Friends of  Peacehaven  for a tree planting day at the Peacehaven Botanic Park at 56 Kuhls Rd, Highfields,” Cr Englart said.

In an area of existing, large eucalyptus trees, about 200 native shrubs and ground story plants will be established. This will result in a pocket of bush representing the layered vegetation of a native dry sclerophyll forest that once dominated our local landscape. The increased complexity of the vegetation will also provide better habitat for native wildlife” Cr Englart said.

Everybody is welcome from 9am to help with planting. All tools and gloves will be supplied and volunteers can enjoy a free sausage sizzle after the activity.

The Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park will have their community nursery open for those who wish to continue planting local native plants in their own backyard. It will also be an opportunity to see the park in its spring colours and inspect the newly installed features, the Stump-in-time and Advice from a Tree.

Later in the month, on 26 October (weather permitting) volunteers will be able to help plant about 500 native trees, shrubs and grasses along Oakey Creek in Boodua Reserve north of Kingsthorpe.

Submitted by:
Madeleine Tiller
Online Communities Officer
Toowoomba Regional Council

In the month of October police will perform an extensive traffic enforcement blitz of the Darling Downs police district which will include all roads not just the major highways in the major communities of the Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs, Warwick and Goondiwindi.

Last week has unfortunately seen the number of lives lost due to road incidents in the Darling Downs police district increasing to twenty eight. The impact has been felt by the families, community, police and emergency services officers.

Acting Superintendent Joe Whyte said: We find this loss of life unacceptable and traumatic to say the least as these fatalities involve the deaths of valued members of our community.”

In response to this figure, police give fair warning of the large overt operation involving numerous members of the Road Policing Unit from Brisbane and the Darling Downs.

It is a worrying trend that the demographic is male above the age of 30 years, and primarily above the age of 40 years. Further the fatal incidents are not just peculiar to our major highways and have often occurred on country roads,” Acting Superintendent Whyte said:

This is a community problem which can be fixed if people follow the road rules, show consideration and patience for other road users, be attentive at all times whilst driving a vehicle and drive to road conditions.”

For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444 or www.Policelink.qld.gov.au 24hrs a day.

Issued by Crime Prevention
Darling Downs District
Phone – 07 4631 6733
www.police.qld.gov.au

Ever wondered what the Freemasons’ secret handshake is or why they wear aprons?

It’s that mystique that is expected to attract big visitor numbers when the Neil Street Masonic Centre throws open its doors for the inaugural Toowoomba Open House. The Masonic Centre will be one of 17 historic buildings taking part in the city’s first Open House event on Sunday, October 6.

Built in 1886, the Neil Street Masonic Centre is one of Toowoomba’s most significant heritage sites and older than the well-known adjoining Empire Theatre, which was constructed in 1911. The Neil Street Masonic Centre was built by James Renwick on a one-acre site in the centre of town, which was reportedly purchased for $900.

Local Freemason Roger Turnbull said the Southern Cross Lodge was looking forward to sharing the colourful history of its headquarters. “We’ve had a few information nights here before, but this is the first time we’ve opened the whole building to the general public for a full day,” he said.

“When people come inside the Neil Street Masonic Centre they are often quite surprised by the building’s historic features.

“Visitors will be able to walk through the main lodge room with its impressive curved ceiling, organ loft, and Grand Master’s chair. The downstairs hall and supper room will also be open.” The public will have the opportunity to meet local Freemasons and Grand Lodge officers, as well as ask any questions they may have about Freemasonry.

“There’s still quite a bit of mystique surrounding our organisation, but Freemasonry has moved with the times and is now more open about its activities,” Mr Turnbull said. “Freemasonry welcomes men from all walks of life and the average age of new members in Queensland is 38.

“Our core values are mateship, caring and integrity and our main aim is to help good men live better lives.”

During the Second World War, the lower floor of the building was occupied by the Australian army from 1943 until 1945. Today the centre is home to four local Lodges and the building is one of Toowoomba’s most significant heritage sites.

Submitted by:
Michelle Cull
Big Splash Communications
P: 07 3399 4000