Love Local News

Cooyar Hotel co-owner Karyn Williamson can again boast that she’s Queensland’s U.G.L.Y. bartender of the year – and it’s a title she can be pretty proud of!

Karyn’s tremendous efforts of raising $15,580 in the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland competition earned her first place, beating 176 other contenders across the state for the U.G.L.Y. (Understanding, Generous, Likeable, You) crown. Nineteen bartenders from the Darling Downs and South West Queensland region participated in the competition.

The second highest Queensland fundraiser this year was also from the Darling Downs region – Danni Lee from Mary’s Commercial Hotel in Dalby raised $11,511. Of the top 10 fundraisers in this year’s competition, six were from the Darling Downs and South West Queensland region.

1. Karyn Williamson $15,580 (Cooyar Hotel)
2. Danni Lee $11,511.25 (Mary’s Commercial Hotel, Dalby)
5. Madison Van Beuzekom $7,697.85 (Settlers Inn Hotel, Toowoomba)
7. Jenna Senior $7,421.95 (Irish Club Hotel, Toowoomba)
9. Brittani Washington $6,037.95 (The Royal Hotel, Goondiwindi)
10. Katie Hutchins $5,900.34 (Porters Plainland Hotel) (source: www.uglybartender.org.au)

Karyn, who lost her husband to leukaemia twenty years ago, thanked her small community for getting behind her once again to help deliver such an outstanding result for blood cancer patients.

2012 is my third year participating in this competition and it’s always so much fun to be part of while raising funds for such a great cause,” Karyn said. Together, my very small community of Cooyar has shown it has a big heart helping me to raise more than $45,000 in the three years I have participated in the competition to support patients in need.”

For raising the most money in Queensland this year (and for raising more than $15,000), Karyn wins a travel voucher valued at $2830, and a fully installed ice machine for her venue (valued at $7,500) thanks to major sponsor Hoshizaki Lancer.A list of Queensland’s top fundraising U.G.L.Y. bartenders can be found at www.uglybartender.org.au or by phoning 1800 002 244.

Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland CEO, Bill Petch, said Queensland’s hospitality industry had embraced U.G.L.Y. bartender of the year with enthusiasm and heart. This year’s U.G.L.Y. competition has delivered some beautiful results raising more than $228,000 across Queensland at the official close of banking on September 3,” Mr Petch said. We must also thank those in the community including local businesses who got behind their local bartenders to help them deliver such fantastic fundraising results.”

A list of Queensland’s top fundraising U.G.L.Y. bartenders can be found at www.uglybartender.org.au or by phoning 1800 002 244.

Submitted by: Leah Nicoll
Communications Officer
Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland
E: lnicoll@leukaemia.org.au

The funeral of our late Founder, Sister Frances Flint CSB will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 1.30pm on Thursday 6th September 2012.

This will be followed by a committal service held at Burstows Chapel, Ruthven Street South, Toowoomba. Afterwards light refreshments will be provided at the Cathedral Centre in Neil Street..

All supporters of the Hospice are respectfully invited to attend. In honour of Sister Frances, the Hospice administration will be closed for the full day. (Sr Frances Fint CSB died suddenly on 28 August).

Graham Barron OAM
Chairman
Toowoomba Hospice Association

On Saturday 22nd September 2012, community members from across the Darling Downs are invited to join The White Ribbon Butterfly Ball & Charity Auction to help raise awareness and important funds for White Ribbon. All attendees at the event are invited participate in the ‘My Oath’ campaign for White Ribbon, by ‘swearing’ to stop violence against women.

The White Ribbon Butterfly Ball & Charity Auction will be held at the Oakey Cultural Centre on Saturday 22nd September 2012. This will be a family friendly evening with charity auction, quilt raffle and lots of fun & dancing.
(Click on image to enlarge)

Tickets are on sale NOW! Adults $75 each Table of 10 $650 – a saving of $100!
Children aged 5-12years – $40 Children under the age of 5 – free! Bookings close Friday 7th September 2012. Tickets include a three course meal, drink and lucky door ticket.

For more information and to book your tickets please contact:
Emma email whiteribbon_butterflyball@hotmail.com or 0447 723 768
Rhonda Rhonda’s Creations, Bridge Street Oakey on (07) 4691 2311.
Or Facebook www.facebook.com/WhiteRibbonButterflyBall

Submitted by:
Emma Ziebell

Specialised arts and crafts and appetising gourmet food will feature at the Queens Park Market this Sunday, August 19. For the first time, the Market will feature organic grass-fed beef products that can be bought in bulk.

The Market is growing in size and popularity, and we are continually welcoming interesting new stallholders,” Market Convenor Jo Capp said. We hope everyone comes to support this fundraising event, browse through the stalls, and enjoy the parklands this weekend.”

The Market will be held at Queens Park, with stallholder access from the Lindsay Street end of the park. All site fees of $25 contribute to the purchase of the much-needed medical equipment for patients at St Vincent’s Hospital, Toowoomba.

Stallholders will be required to set up by 7am and must remain on-site until 1pm.

For more information please contact the St Vincent’s Hospital Communication and Marketing Unit on 46904186.

Submitted by:
Madeleine Tiller,
Communications and Marketing,
07 4690 4007 / 0423 166 307,
email: Madeleine.Tiller@stvincents.org.au.

Toowoomba Hospice Promotions and Fundraising Manager Mark Munro is encouraging staff of local businesses to hang their boss out this Friday all for a good cause – The Toowoomba Hospice.

“We have asked businesses on the Darling Downs to raise a $500 entry fee so they can have the opportunity to Hang their Boss out to Dry” by placing him or her in a cherry picker and raising it to the top. The Boss then has to raise a minimum of $500 from up in the air to be let back down. They can contact anyone they like to raise their money, so hopefully no-one will be left hanging!”

The Hospice has cared for over 760 clients with the highest standard afforded to all, however to maintain this level of care support, they are forced to rely heavily on the financial assistance of the community to fund an operating budget of $1.4 million dollars per annum.

“Whilst Queensland Health continues to support our services generously, we still need around $800,000. This amount comes from the generosity of the people of Toowoomba and the surrounding districts and as part of the ongoing fundraising efforts, the Hospice has come up with a new fundraiser where they hope to raise over $15,000. The event will be known as ‘Hang Ya Boss Out To Dry'”said Mr Munro, Fundraising Manager.

As an extra incentive, the Boss that raises the most money for the Hospice in the period of the event will win two nights at Versace Resort at the Gold Coast along with the use of an Audi motor vehicle for the weekend!  This prize is thanks to the brand new Audi Centre Toowoomba (Wippells Autos Group).

The event will be held on 17 August 2012 from 6am onwards at the Toowoomba Hospice grounds – 57b O’Quinn Street. The Lions Club of Wilsonton will have Breakfast Burgers available and the Coffee Cruiser will also be there.

Submitted by:
Mark Munro
Ph 0418 975 778 or 07 4659 8500

The Toowoomba Basketball Association has successfully negotiated with the Townsville McDonalds Crocodiles and Sydney Kings NBL teams to play pre-season games in Toowoomba on the 14th and 16th of September.

These games will be part of a Festival of Basketball – Promoting Positive Choices” where efforts will be made to stem community incidence of violence, bullying, self-harm, obesity, substance abuse, suicide, psychological disorders and crime.

The Crocs will arrive on 12th September to conduct a pre-season training camp, provide a massive number of school clinics, visit childrens hospitals, make appearances at McDonalds Restaurants and attend functions to promote the concept of positive choices” leading to better outcomes in life as well as on court.

Submitted by:
John Gouldson
TBA Vice President