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The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) advises works on the Warrego Highway on the Toowoomba Range section will be ramped up to 24 hours a day, six days a week to provide two lane operations on the up lanes while adjacent work continues. This is expected to be carried out by end of June, weather permitting.

TMR has redesigned the 350-metre long rock protection wall on the left side of the westbound lanes near the top of the Range, using a slip-form methodology so it requires less space. Temporary widening will be required to provide room for two lanes and the work area for this wall.

This wall will protect vehicles from rock falls and landslides, such as those experienced after the heavy storms and the devastating flood in 2011.

A single lane will need to remain closed to enable work on the eastbound down lanes.

The early works on the eastbound down lanes involve:
widening the existing carriageway in sections as a minor realignment,
earthworks and treatments to make the slopes above the road surface safer, and starting construction of a new section of road between the existing up and down lanes.

This realignment will place both carriageways together from the mid-section known as the Saddle” up the Range as far as the intersection with Stevenson Street.

There will still be delays, but TMR has put in place a number of measures to ensure disruptions are kept to a minimum.

These measures include:
TMR has stationed tow trucks for heavy and light vehicles on the Range from 6am to 8pm Monday to Friday so that breakdowns can be removed quickly to the nearest safe location,
TMR has hired variable message signs (VMS) to provide information for drivers approaching Toowoomba from Goondiwindi, Ipswich, Dalby, Warwick, and Crows Nest. These VMS boards will provide drivers with advance warning of significant delays on the Range, and
TMR has started using the Toowoomba Range SMS service again, and has sent out messages recently advising of heavy congestion. The service can be accessed at www.toowoombarangesms.com.au

In an effort to be of help in  relieving traffic congestion on the Toowoomba Range, we have also received this advice from Tony Rehn of the Queensland Police Service.
“Some of you would already be aware of the following website showing the traffic situation on the Toowoomba Range. These images come from 6 different cameras which refresh every 60 seconds, and may be of assistance with your travel or that of your staff.”

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Traffic-cameras-by-location/Traffic cameras.aspx?name=Toowoomba%20Range%20-%20Saddle%20%28West%29

Forwarded for your information by:
Tony Rehn
Crime Prevention Officer
Southern Region
Queensland Police Service
Ph 07 4631 6755 Fax 07 4615 3200
P.O. Box 144, Toowoomba Qld 4350
QPS website: www.police.qld.gov.au
13 1444 Police link – the new number to report non urgent incidents
Crimestoppers 1800 333 000

‘Darling Downs Free Dress Challenge’ is aimed at raising the awareness and profile of the Toowoomba Hospice in our local community. Each participating business, club, organisation or school selects a day during the ‘FREE DRESS CHALLENGE’ months in which participants are encouraged to make/collect donations for the Hospice while wearing free dress. (It’s always FUN to have a theme)
All monies raised on the day are donated to the Toowoomba Hospice. The group who raises the most money per participant receives a Digital Camera. To encourage all businesses, clubs, organisations and schools on the Darling Downs to participate, the total monies raised by each group is divided by their total participants/enrolment ensuring a fair chance for all.

So if your business, club, organisation or school want to participate in the ‘FREE DRESS CHALLENGE’, please fill in the attached rego form and email it to Jody at records.toowoombahospice@bigpond.com or me at admin.toowoombahospice@bigpond.com

Yours in Putting the FUN back into FUNdraising

Mark R Munro
Promotions & Fundraising Manager
Toowoomba Hospice
Po Box 6463
Clifford Gardens Qld 4350

Bruce and Denise Morcombe have become much sought after advocates for child safety following the tragic abduction of their son Daniel in 2003. Their Daniel Morcombe Foundation is active in implementing ‘Harm Prevention’ initiatives – teaching children and the vulnerable about personal safety.

As part of their ongoing work across Australia Bruce and Denise will attend this year’s Pittsworth Health and Wellbeing Expo to deliver a special message on behalf of their foundation. Bruce and Denise are no strangers to the region, having spoken at the Millmerran Health and Wellbeing Expo last year.

The Expo offers a great deal for all visitors with displays including art from the Pittsworth Art Group, cooking displays (including the free Six Week Healthy Eating Course, courtesy of the Toowoomba Regional Council Change Project) and a variety of demonstrations.

Visitors can see how personal alarm systems work, have their blood pressure taken and watch demonstrations of therapeutic massage. There will also be a healthy lunch provided by the Beauaraba CWA Pittsworth, with gourmet coffee or tea available.

The Pittsworth Health and Wellbeing Expo runs between 9.00am – 3.00pm on Thursday, April 18 at the Pittsworth Town Hall.

For more information phone 4695 3123.

Around 100 tickets remain on sale for this year’s Mayoral Prayer Breakfast at Rumours International on Tuesday, 14th May. Almost 800 tickets have been sold to this, the 21st annual event. Guest speaker for the 2013 annual Mayoral fundraiser is Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton.

Additional tickets have now been released for sale due to the rush for seats in the seven business days since tickets became available for purchase.

Toowoomba Clubhouse and Fresh Hope Association will share the day’s proceeds.
Tickets can be purchased at all council Customer Service Centres from 8.30am to 5pm. Tickets can also  be bought by calling 131 872 or from www.trybooking.com/clcp

All credit cards, except Diners Club and American Express, can be used.

The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation will stage the annual Leon Treadwell Memorial Charity Golf Day at the City Golf Club this Friday, 19th April, with all funds raised going to the Oncology (Cancer Care) Unit at the Toowoomba Hospital.

This event is held in memory of Leon Treadwell who passed away at the young age of 32 from a very rare cancer disease in his appendix. Leon was an ardent golfer and a former City Golf Club representative in the DDSWGA Pennant Competition.

The previous memorial golf days have been highly successful, raising more than $20,000 in funds to go to the Oncology Unit.

The event will be a 4-a-side Ambrose competition with a shotgun start at 11:00 a.m. Entry costs $35 per player ($140 for a team) and there will be an array of great trophies to be won. The Leon Treadwell memorial shield will also be presented to the team with the best nett on the day. If you cannot make the day but would like to support this great cause, please contact the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.

For nominations and further information please call 4616 6166.

Submitted by:
Peter Rookas
CEO
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation

Local artist and curator, Catherine Parker has a passion for India and its vivid culture. Since being accepted as an Artist in Residence in New Delhi, India in 2005, Catherine has made an annual return trip, each time sharing her experience with fellow artist travellers.

During her 2008 visit, she met Kamal Swami, an Indian artist based in Jaisalmere, Rajasthan, who works in the traditional miniature painting style with local (Mewar – Rajasthan), Mughal and Persian influences. This style is highly regarded for attention to detail; recording day to day scenes of the country’s vivid customs and culture,” said Catherine.Visiting India and meeting Swami changed the direction of my own artwork; shrinking from large scale paintings to 30cm square works on board and paper.”

Recently returned from her latest trip, Catherine is now looking forward to welcoming Swami to Toowoomba as Artist in Residence at the University of Southern Queensland. Although the two artists have collaborated on a number of occasions in the past, this will be Swami’s first visit to Toowoomba and indeed, Australia.

Swami has a degree in the ancient language of Sanskrit and Parker a degree in Fine Arts, allowing a certain dialogue that creates dimensional shifts incorporating Catherine’s contemporary influence with Swami’s traditional background. Both artists continue to work outside their comfort zone and although from vastly different backgrounds connect on a deep level of mutual respect, philosophy and a common love of the narrative. “The discipline of working small and collaborating involves intuitively considering the other person; it takes the ‘I’ and the ego out of the process as the prime concern is sharing each other’s vision.”

Catherine and Swami will share their most recent works in an exhibition at the USQ Arts Gallery from 16 April-12 May.

DRAWN TO INDIA will also feature works by other artists who have also travelled to India on Catherine’s art tours. We have artists from wonderfully diverse backgrounds and their works are an eclectic assortment of art made both during and post tour. Some are spontaneous observations made on the crazy streets of Rajasthan surrounded by elephants, camels, goats, holy men, temples and on the ghats of the holy lake of Pushkar amongst the sacred chanting of prayers, while others are of the peaceful Shekhawati region amongst sari-clad women in mustard fields carrying brass pots and jangling their feminine forms.

‘Our sketchbooks will also be on display – precious jewels of daily drawings, paintings, mini snapshots of life, colour, people, culture, meditations and memoirs.

DRAWN TO INDIA will be officially opened on Tuesday 16 April at 5pm and continues until 9 May in the USQ Arts Gallery. The Gallery is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday and admission is free of charge.

Submitted by:
Michelle Fox
Marketing Manager
USQ Artsworx
Email: michelle.fox@usq.edu.au