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Cowboy Up Trail Riding will represent the Toowoomba region and compete for top honours at the 2013 Queensland Tourism Awards, proudly presented by Queensland Airports Limited.
The Emu Creek horse trail ride business has nominated for the Adventure Tourism category in Queensland’s largest and most prestigious annual tourism awards program which recognises the outstanding achievements of industry operators across the State.
Cowboy Up Trail Riding Owner/Operator Gillian Gould said nominating for the 2013 Queensland Tourism Awards was a prime opportunity to receive industry-wide recognition and profile their business within a highly-contestable tourist market. We entered the Queensland Tourism Awards to increase our public profile.”
“The Awards program has given us an opportunity to revise our business plan and reflect on our goals for the business,” Ms Gould said. We feel that an award-winning business has a greater appeal to customers when deciding where to spend their money.

If we were to win a Queensland Tourism Award, we believe ultimately it would improve our overall business and provide recognition for excellent customer service and good business management.  The tourism market has certainly had its share of challenges over the past few years. Entering the Queensland Tourism Awards is a wonderful way to recognise our business overcoming those harder times because now our business is going strong, offering great customer service and a wonderful country experience.

Our local Toowoomba region is working hard to be positioned as a recognised tourism destination. We like to think our business is part of that positive community progression.”

QTIC Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said nominations for the 29th Queensland Tourism Awards had increased by 12 per cent in 2013 compared to the previous year which is a positive sign for the industry. The 2013 Awards will usher in a new category – Excellence in Food Tourism – which recognises the ever-expanding market of top quality businesses which feature Queensland produce as part of their tourism experience.”

The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise hard-working tourism businesses throughout our great state and this year we’re excited to see an increase in nominations which coincide with some exciting new program announcements,” Mr Gschwind said. This year will also see the introduction of Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for each category which will align Queensland with the Australian Tourism Awards.”

Gold, Silver and Bronze winners from 32 categories will be announced on Friday 22 November at the newly opened RNA Convention Centre. More than 800 guests including Award entrants are expected to attend the Gala Ceremony. Gold Award winners will gain automatic entry into the Australian Tourism Awards.

The Queensland Tourism Awards are hosted by Queensland Tourism Industry Council and presented in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and the Queensland Government. For more information, please visit www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au or ‘Queensland Tourism Awards’ on Facebook.

Submitted by:
Frances Manfield
BBS

Highfields Cultural Centre’s vows to be a first-class wedding reception venue were realised this week at the Australian Bridal Industry Awards (ABIA), Queensland held in Brisbane.

TRC Tourism and Events portfolio leader, Cr Geoff McDonald announced that the centre was rated second in the State for function coordinator and third for reception centre. “These awards are determined by the people who know about these things – the brides – and they rated Highfields Cultural Centre at over 95%.
Assistant coordinator of Highfields Cultural Centre Zoe Bryant, left, and coordinator Renee Blackburn display their haul of ABIA awards.

“Centre staff not only say ‘I do’ to bride’s requests but also pledge excellence in post ceremony celebrations. I offer my sincere congratulations to the staff and management of Highfields Cultural Centre on an outstanding result,” Cr McDonald said.

Every year, ABIA hosts the state Annual Bridal Industry awards to recognise and reward the best wedding suppliers in the industry.

Highfields Cultural Centre was a finalist in the following categories:
Function coordinator
Reception centre
In-house wedding advisor
Ceremony venue.

“The fact that the centre hosted 37 weddings last financial year is impressive and shows that these awards are well deserved,” Cr McDonald said.

Submitted by:
Jenny Foxton
Senior Communication Officer
Toowoomba Regional Council

Come along and watch the Rendezvous participants march along Campbell Street, Millmerran finishing with the firing of guns and cannon in a salute. The Street Parade will commence at 11.30 am  from the corner of Mary and Campbell Streets.

The day’s proceedings will be officially opened by Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Cr Paul Antonio.

A market Day in Anzac Park will run from 10am to 2pm with stalls selling arts and crafts, homemade  goodies, paintings and much more. A BBQ will be operating throughout the day, and there will be lots of family fun activities with great prizes to be won.

The event is supported by Millmerran Chamber of Commerce and Toowoomba Regional Council.

About the Rendezvous
Rendezvous is a Discipline re-enacting the lifestyle and firearms of the world in the Muzzleloading Golden Age from 1500 to 1865. The discipline hosts The Millmerran Open at the Captain’s Mountain Complex, open to all muzzleloading re-enactment groups and clubs throughout Australia. The 11th Millmerran Open runs from 29th June to Saturday, 6th July. The event is held in July of every second year and began in 1993.

Submitted by:
Katrina Grundon
Tourism & Events Officer
T: 07 4695 2560
E: Katrina.Grundon@toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

Hannah Nugent of Toowoomba has been nominated in The Styleprint Youth Leadership Award Category for the 2013 Queensland Regional Achievement & Community Awards.

This annual awards program is presented by Channel 7 Queensland and provides an opportunity for state wide recognition for individual young people or organisations and groups providing leadership and initiative to young people between the ages of 12 and 27 . With fantastic prizes, the Awards reward the hard working people of our remote and regional areas in Queensland.

16 year old Hannah believes a great leader makes a difference to the success of a community and has taken on roles as the Middle School leader for Teaching and Learning at Fairholme College, as well as fundraising initatives within the school and her community to support local charities such as the Cancer Fund and White Ribbon Day. Hannah Nugent has also been tasked with taking on community responsibilities as a School Representative through school service programs in which Hannah has provided service and support to the elderly in local nursing homes throughout Toowoomba.

As a current University of Queensland Science Ambassador, Hannah endeavours to encourage the a love of Science throughout Fairholme College and encourages younger students to choose science subjects whilst at school, one of her biggest accolades was participating the Southern Queensland Regional Science and Engineering Team Challenge where the team was placed 3rd in the competition.

Hannah has a strong love of the Performing Arts and appeared in the Toowoomba School of Dance’s Concert for Toowoomba Hospitals which aids in raising money to provide equipment to local hospitals. Hannah hopes her dedication to school work and her role as a leader within both her school community and the community at large will encourage other younger students to participate and embrace community service work in the future.

This year the winner of the Youth Leadership Award will win $2,500 thanks to the Commonwealth Bank. Winners will be announced at a Gala Presentation to be held at the Toowoomba Show Grounds on Saturday 9th November, 2013.

The Awards are proudly supported by The Queensland Country Life and Angove Family Wine Makers.

Submitted by
Erika Hanratty
Awards Coordinator
Queensland Regional Achievement & Community Awards
T: 1300 735 445 | F: 02 9643 1733 |E: erika@awardsaustralia.com
NOMINATE NOW: www.awardsaustralia.com

The Downs Club, centrally located in Toowoomba’s CBD at the corner of Margaret and Mylne Streets, has for many years provided couples with a luxurious and private yet affordable wedding venue.

This year the club has decided to open its doors on August 25 to showcase their venue to couples planning their weddings. Joining them at the club will be many of Toowoomba’s top wedding suppliers including Event Illusions, Toowoomba Party Hire, Central Jewellers, Elle Baché and Merivale Cakes.

In addition to the usual wedding expo happenings, the club will be treating couples and their guests to complimentary savoury finger foods and wine tastings. The first 300 guests to arrive will also receive a complimentary gift bag.

Brides and grooms planning their weddings are encouraged to come along and discuss their specific desires and requirements with the many local Toowoomba businesses exhibiting at the event. Many of the businesses in attendance are offering special packages available only to couples that attend this wedding showcase.

This inaugural Downs Club Wedding Showcase is being held on Sunday, August 25. The showcase is open from 10am to 3pm. Entry is $5 per person including an entry in the lucky door prize.

Background:

Established in 1889, The Downs Club is Toowoomba’s finest businessmen’s club. The historic, purpose-built clubhouse is a fully restored Victorian building located in the heart of Toowoomba’s CBD. The Club’s facilities are available for hire to the general public for weddings and other private functions.

Submitted by:
Ted Edwards
President, The Downs Club
E-mail: Ted.Edwards@west-star.com.au

 

Toowoomba will come together as one of 15 cities in Australia that will Walk Together in support of refugees and asylum seekers on Saturday, 22 June 2013 as part of Refugee Week  celebrations (16-22 June).

The city’s refugee communities, along with services organisations and the community will join forces in a walk of solidarity. 2013 marks the second year that Toowoomba has participated in the national Walk Together campaign, which is an initiative of Welcome to Australia. It’s aimed at celebrating Australia’s diversity and publicly demonstrates community support for refugees and asylum seekers.

The walk will start at 1pm at the Village Green and will be a colourful procession of rhythmic drumming and performers that will end at St Luke’s Church Hall with a community celebration. This will include the declaration of Toowoomba as a Refugee Welcome Zone” (the third in Queensland) and will be presided over by the Mayor Paul Antonio.

Members of the community are invited to join this celebration of diversity and send the message collectively that if we’re all people, we’re all equal”.

Walk Together Toowoomba is coordinated by the Multicultural Development Association and partners including Toowoomba Regional Council, Catholic Social Justice Commission, Southern Institute of TAFE, Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Service (TRAMS), Queensland Program for Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT) and Mercy Family Services.

Date Saturday 22 June 2013

Time 12.30pm – Dudu Zulu drumming group will drum a call to people
1pm – walk starts
Venue Starts at the Village Green and ends at St Luke’s Church Hall

The walk route

From Village Green, left onto Little Street, right onto Duggan Street, right onto Margaret street, right onto Ruthven Street, and then up to St Luke’s Church Hall. The walk will take approximately 20 minutes.

Submitted by:
Akua Afriyie Ahenkorah
Media and Communications Manager
Multicultural Development Association
Mobile 0423 949 632