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A 100-year-old Toowoomba home with links to a family dynasty of 19th century sawmillers, has been unveiled as the feature of the 2013 Heritage Bank calendar. The 2013 calendar is the 32nd edition and will raise approximately $25,000 for charity, thanks to gold coin donations from customers.
The 2013 calendar features Apsley” in Toowoomba’s eastern suburbs, a home that provides a wonderful example of the city’s early 20th century grandeur. The home was built in 1908 by William John Munro, reportedly named after Apsley Falls in New South Wales where he had honeymooned. William Munro lived at “Apsley” until his death in 1968.

William was the son of Duncan Munro, who set up a number of thriving sawmills in the Geham area with his brother Archibald in the late 1800s. Archibald went on to become an early Mayor of Toowoomba, while Duncan served on the local council in Highfields for more than 30 years.

“Apsley” was built in the style of the large early house in Toowoomba. With a wide front verandah, a central hallway with decorative arches, polished timber floors, 12-foot ceilings, casement windows and VJ walls, it typifies the homes that well-to-do Toowoomba citizens built at this time. That style extends to the large front and side gardens, and the tennis court at the rear.

Brisbane artist Cliff Sheldrake’s painting of Apsley adorns the calendar. Heritage Chairman Mr Kerry Betros said the house was another striking representation of the varied architectural history of Queensland.

Apsley” today is a blend of old and new. While the front aspect remains largely unchanged from its original architecture, extensive renovations in the 1990s at the rear of the home have given it a more modern feel, though they marry up with the home’s original design and maintain the original charm of its era.

Heritage CEO Mr John Minz said the 2013 calendar was available to all members, who were invited to donate a gold coin for a copy. Funds raised from the 2013 calendar will be donated to charities across the southern Queensland region, including Ronald McDonald House, the AEIOU Foundation, the Logan East Community Neighbourhood Centre, CareFlight, Canteen and Fusion Sunshine Coast.

Toowoomba Hospice Chairman Graham Barron OAM said the Toowoomba Hospice will start its Festive Season this Sunday, 25th November at the Hospice in O’Quinn Street with carols and switching on of the Christmas lights.

We are excited to be able to celebrate our tenth Christmas and we want to thank the community as a whole from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us. We are having Christmas carols here at the Hospice from 5pm. Toowoomba Municipal Band will be playing, High Altitude Harmony will lead the singing, there will be food and drinks on sale as well, so bring the family, a blanket or chair and kick off the Christmas season with us here at the Toowoomba Hospice”.

Mr. Barron is reassuring all those who attend on Sunday that the ‘Big Fella’ in the red suit will be coming in for a quick visit. I have had our promotions and fundraising manager, Mark Munro on the phone to the North Pole coordinating the special visit from Santa and I am pleased to say he has confirmed he will be leaving in time to arrive here about 6pm!!”

The Toowoomba Hospice has been providing Palliative Care Services to the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba and Darling Downs Communities since July 1st, 2003.

Mark R Munro
Promotions & Fundraising Manager
Toowoomba Hospice
PO Box 6463
Clifford Gardens Qld 4350
Ph: 07 4659 8500 Fax: 07 4659 8511
www.toowoombahospice.org.au

The Empire Theatre will be the venue for the Toowoomba School of Dance (TSD) 12th annual production of the much-loved dance spectacular ‘A Christmas Wish‘. Adding a touch of Europe, Parisian style, will be a feature of this year’s special event on Saturday 24th November.

In the first half of the program, ballet students will present ‘La Vie Parisienne’. Come join the excitement and festivities of the final day of the Tour de France and experience the bustling streets of the Parisian lifestyle. With the beautiful scenery and captivating dancing on the magnificent stage of the Empire Theatre, the audience will be enticed into a vibrant café scene along with its Artists, Models, Puppets, Buskers and Circus Performers, ending with a bang of Fireworks.

‘Tiki Jungle’, is the title of the second half of the production, featuring colourful costumes and lively dance routines that will entertain young and old with its program of Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Song and Dance, Irish and Contemporary dance. The dynamic change of pace in the second half of the program will captivate guests with characters such as Funky Monkeys, Bumble Bees, Lava and Tiki Dancers. The special guest artist for ‘A Christmas Wish 2012′ will be Toowoomba’s ever-popular Ruby Slipperz.

The 2012 annual event has come to fruition once again thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Toowoomba Regional Council, Kendall, Fitzy’s on Church, Clive Berghofer Land Sales, as well as a number of other locally owned businesses.

There will be two performances of ‘A Christmas Wish’ this year on Saturday 24th November – a 1.30pm matinee and a 6.30pm evening show. Tickets are on sale now at the Empire Theatre box office for $20 single and $60 for a family of four.

‘A Christmas Wish’, has prided itself as also being a major fundraising event for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation’s Toowoomba Hospital Children’s Appeal and has raised over $130,000 during its run of 12 years at the Empire Theatre.

Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Peter Rookas thanked Dale Coles and the TSD team for their ongoing commitment to the Foundation. We are extremely grateful for the annual commitment that the children from TSD put in to making this event such a huge success.” He said the funds raised by the children of Toowoomba School of Dance at their annual concert, goes towards purchasing major pieces of equipment for children’s health.

Further information from:
Peter Rookas
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation
Phone 4616 6166

A Space To Breathe”  has been officially opened at Rosalie Gallery Mocatta Street, Goombungee by Downlands College art exhibition curator Evan Hollis. The exhibition explores the individual artist’s expression of the creative process in their own unique way. The strength of this exhibition is in the profound depth of the individual’s message. Individually it is a very personal and honest celebration of creating with feeling and not for the glory of superficial beauty that goes beyond the illusion of the aesthetic.

The variety of mediums used and works by the three artists, an exhibition by artists Angela Goulton, Maryika Welter and Rhonda Jenner include a large collaborative instillation as well as assemblages, photography, works on paper and canvas. All three artists have considerable recognition in their own right through awards, achievements and valued individual community involvement.

Fulfilling our creativity is a sacred trust,” a quote by Julia Cameron, author of The Artists Way” best describes the intention of this group exhibition. Angela, Maryika & Rhonda are three friends connected by a creative spirit exploring the space in which to find a moment of stillness to breathe and learn to be themselves.

Our art is our own unique story,” quoted all three artists.

The exhibition will continue until December 2nd. Opening hours at the gallery are Wednesday to Sunday 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. For further information phone the gallery on 4696 5600.

Submitted by: Jenny Gersekowski

Remembrance Day (November 11) marks the anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War in 1918. More than 60,000 Australian soldiers were killed in World War One and another 156,000 were wounded or taken as Prisoners of War. Since then, more than 100,000 Australians have died during military service and more than 215,000 have been wounded or captured.

To commemorate their sacrifice, one minute’s silence is observed at annual Remembrance Day services held at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

The solemn gatherings pay tribute to the ANZACs who have died or suffered to serve the nation in wars, conflicts and peace keeping operations around the world. RSL Queensland CEO Chris McHugh said it is particularly important to remember the seven Australian soldiers killed this year while on duty far from home.
In the past decade, 39 Australian Defence Force personnel aged from 21 to 41 have been killed on duty in Afghanistan,” Mr McHugh said. More than 240 other soldiers and sailors have suffered amputations, fractures, gunshot wounds, hearing loss or brain injury.

While their losses cannot be remedied, we can honour their sacrifices by ensuring that their mission and their families are not forgotten or neglected.”

Thousands of Queenslanders are expected to attend more than 130 Remembrance Day services across the state on this Sunday 11 November.

District Services as advised by the RSL (Queensland Branch):
Crow’s Nest – William Street, Memorial, Crows Nest 10:45am
Dalby – ANZAC Park, Patrick Street, Dalby 9:30am
Djuan & District – Cenotaph, cnr Hartwig and Mocatta Streets,  Goombungee 10:45am
Highfields – Memorial, Highfields Cultural Centre, O’Brien Road, Highfields 10:45am
Millmerran – ANZAC Memorial Park, Herbert Street, Millmerran 10:30am
Oakey – Cnr Campbell and McDonald Streets, Oakey 10:45am
Pittsworth – Shrine, Yandilla Street, Pittsworth 10:45am
Toowoomba & District – Mothers Memorial, Margaret Street, Toowoomba, 10:30am

Further details and donations at www.rslqld.org/