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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

On behalf of Men of League Southern Division I would like to encourage all Men of League members; former/present rugby league players; supporters; officials; volunteers to attend the Annual Dinner function for the Division, celebrating the career of John McDonald AM.
On the night, the Men of League Southern Division will announce the �Volunteer of the Year Johnson Star award sponsored by Full Noise Boilys (Brett Johnson, a former player helped by Men of League). It will be a fantastic night celebrating John McDonald’s amazing career both on and off the field. The MC will be none other than Pat O’Shea.

Please ensure you book early as there is a limit of 160 (16 X 10 tables) of which 4 are already taken.

Thanking you for your support.

Peter Rookas
CEO
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation

A LaTrobe University academic with an extensive research background in dementia patients, their sexuality and relationships, will speak in Toowoomba during the  month of June.

Emeritus Professor Rhonda Nay will provide the keynote address at the Lourdes Home of the Aged 50th Anniversary Dinner at Picnic Point on Saturday, June 29. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased from Lourdes Home of the Aged office on 4636 3155 or via email: spember@lourdes.com.au before Monday, June 17.

Professor Nay is Director of TIME for Dementia the Study Centre for Victoria and Tasmania and sits on the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Board. Her research interest is in person-centred, evidence-based care environments for older people, specifically those with dementia.

Her specific research areas include staff-family relationships, sexual expression and sexuality, person-centred care and pain management.

Professor Nay has been a member of numerous government and professional committees including the Commonwealth Aged Care Workforce Committee and the AHCA Reference Group on Continuum of Care, the National Advisory Committee on Ageing.

The Lourdes Home for the Aged anniversary dinner will be held on June 29th at Picnic Point from 6.30pm, with 50th anniversary celebrations continuing at Lourdes Home on Sunday, June 30 with a Jubilee Mass at 9.30am followed by High Tea.

All are welcome to attend.

Some background information on Lourdes Home for the Aged:

• Lourdes Home for the Aged was officially opened on June 30 1963 and the Canossian Sisters were charged with the care and daily running of the facility until early 1992.

• It was originally established as a facility for the aged and for retired priests; the vision of Bishop William Brennan.

• In 1993, Bishop William Morris appointed an Advisory Board to make recommendations on the future direction of the facility, some of whom are still involved today.

• Lourdes is a state-of-the-art facility and has plans to continue to ensure that it meets and exceeds the demands of the future. It will continue to maintain the philosophy of the Canossian Sisters to deliver genuine care in a place of love and peace – A stronghold of hope”.

• Lourdes Home is managed by St Vincent’s Care Services (SVCS).

Submitted by:
Madeleine Tiller
Communications and Marketing Manager (Acting)
St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba

Keep Queensland Beautiful is once again looking for the Sunshine State town that outshines the rest in pride and practices relating to litter and recycling.

Last year’s Queensland winner was Longreach which went on to the national competition and took out the Cultural and Heritage prize and the Young Legends category.

Whether you are from a town of 100,000 or a small town of 500 we want to know what you are doing….all towns have great projects and features that can qualify to be a state winner.

Put your town on the map by winning the title of Tidiest Town or Friendliest Town 2013.

Entering is easy and can be completed on our website http://www.keepqueenslandbeautiful.org.au

Submitted by:
Rick Burnett, CEO
Keep Queensland Beautiful

The Queensland Regional Achievement & Community Awards have been officially launched in Mackay and the search has commenced for unsung heroes within our community.

Proudly presented by Channel 7 Queensland, the Awards aim to acknowledge and reward our regional heroes. The Awards provide an opportunity for communities around the state to embrace and salute the success of our local achievers through youth leadership, events, community service, environmental practices and regional development. We are calling on you to nominate someone you know in one of the Award categories:

• The Prime Super Community of the Year Award

• The Peabody Environment and Landcare Award

• The Origin Energy Regional Service Award

• The Reay Services Energy and Sustainability Award **NEW**

• The Safeguard Events and Tourism Award

• The Styleprint Youth Leadership Award

By nominating someone you know, you will give them the chance to win great prizes thanks to the Commonwealth Bank. As the major prize patron, Commonwealth Bank will present each award winner with a $2,500 Visa Debit Mastercard Account and each winner will be put forward for the Commonwealth Bank Special Commendation Award, with the chance to win a further $2,500.

Winners will be announced in Toowoomba at the Gala Dinner Presentation hosted by the Clive Berghoffer Events Centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, on Saturday 9th November 2013. The Queensland Regional Achievement and Community Awards are proudly supported by Queensland Country Life and Angove Family Winemakers.

Nominations close on Friday 23rd August 2013.

For further information, please contact your local Awards Office on
1300 735 445.

A new memorial, recognising military and police animal service, was unveiled at 11am on June 1 at Newtown Park, Toowoomba.

Toowoomba Regional Councillor Carol Taylor has been a vocal supporter of the project and has worked tirelessly with war historian and author Nigel Allsop to see  it become a reality. “There have been seven war animal memorials dedicated across the state in the past year and I’m very proud that we can now add Toowoomba to that list,” Cr Taylor said. “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m delighted to see that it has finally come to fruition.”

Cr Taylor said Newtown Park held significant military ties, having served as a base for many American troops on R&R during WW2. “But most importantly, it was a military camping site for the 11th Infantry Battalion, headquarters for the 25th Battalion and Light Horse Association,” she said.

“It’s surprising just how many animals – dogs, camels, donkeys, even pigeons – that have provided such gallant service in all types of conflicts. “A staggering eight million animals were killed in WW1 and WW2, so I think it’s only fitting that we should honour them permanently. There are still dogs actively serving in Afghanistan as bomb detection dogs.”
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Cr Paul Antonio and Member for Groom Ian MacFarlane officially unveiled the memorial at a dedication ceremony at the centre of the park (near the rose garden). The 11th and 2nd Light Horse Brigades, police horses and dogs, military dogs, donkeys, heavy horses, pigeons and Stan the Ram (8/9 RAR Mascot) along with service men and women were in attendance, as were members of the public.

A number of ttudents from Gowrie State School read their essays about animals in military service, and prayers and blessing of the plaque was conducted by Father Kerry Costigan.