Love Local News

Excitement is building at Hampton as the high country village counts down to its 10th anniversary Hampton Food and Arts Festival. Organisers are putting the finishing touches on the May 20 event, which is expected to attract more than 4,000 visitors keen to enjoy the food, wine, music, art and unique country atmosphere under the eucalypts in Chapman Park.

Organising committee chairperson Kerri Seccombe said that there will be plenty on offer to satisfy visitors on Festival day.

Foodies are well catered for this year. Our guest chefs Dominique Rizzo and Dan Boller will be running cooking demos all day, and our enhanced Festival Market Place will be offering a huge range of locally grown produce. Plus visitors have more than 50 winery, restaurant and market stalls to choose from, with everything from chardonnay to chevon tempting people’s palates.”

Ms Seccombe said one of the highlights of this year’s event will be internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist Jeff Lang, who is headlining an exciting music program.

Rolling Stone magazine described Jeff as Australia’s best roots-music artisan, so we’re really proud to be able to bring a musician of such quality to Hampton,” said Ms Seccombe. He’ll be well supported by a line-up of Queensland based performers including Danny Widdicombe, Innes Campbell, and Dana Hassall.”

Arts enthusiasts haven’t been forgotten at this year’s Hampton Festival. According to Ms Seccombe, the Hampton Art Exhibition that runs in conjunction with the Festival has received a record number of entries.

Painting, drawing, sculpture and photography will be on show, and our four Artists In Residence will keep the crowds enthralled with their amazing skills. Plus there’s still a few places available in our Saturday workshops, which will explore a range of botanical themes. Bookings can be made by visiting our website.”

The Hampton Food and Arts Festival, made possible with the support of Heritage Bank Community Branches and Toowoomba Regional Council, opens at 9.30am on Sunday May 20, in Chapman Park, adjacent to the New England Highway. Entry is $10 (under 12’s free) and a free bus service will run from Toowoomba and Highfields courtesy of Bus Queensland Toowoomba. Check times and details at the website, www.hamptonfestival.com

Each year The Salvation Army extends care to more than one million Australians facing crisis. The Salvation Army, who many of us know affectionately as the Salvos, is dedicated to meeting the needs of the most marginalised and disadvantaged members of our community.

In the last financial year, The Salvation Army spent more than $500million on delivering services and programs to people in need – this includes shelter for the homeless, refuge for victims of abuse and relief to communities affected by natural disasters.

The Red Shield Appeal will run from 16th April –20th May with the Door Knock on 19‐20th May, 2012.

The Red Shield Appeal is The Salvation Army’s key fundraising activity which generates vital income to support its ongoing work. The Salvos offer people the chance to change their lives every day.

Can you please consider assisting us during this year’s Red Shield Appeal? Please give when the collector calls, or phone 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit www.SalvationArmy.org.au for secure online donations.

Thank you in advance for your very generous support.

How would you like to put some fun and excitement into your Saturday afternoon?

You would? Well, this Saturday afternoon 19th May, soon after 1:30pm you’ll have that chance, because boys from the Rangeville Community Church’s Space Pilots’ Club will be launching their model rockets – some dozens of them – at the T.A.R.M.A.C field (just 10km south of Toowoomba on the New England Highway), and you could come and join in the fun, the sights and sounds of rockets thundering up off the launch pads in clouds of smoke – all to the “ooooh’s” and “ahhhh’s” of all the spectators.
These beautifully crafted aerospace-models soar up to 1000 feet (and more), before ejecting their parachutes and floating back to earth. What a sight!

Yes …. and it’s all for free !

Where is this T.A.R.M.A.C. model-aircraft launching field? ….. well it is on the New England Highway, south of Toowoomba, through Hodgsonvale and on your right just past “The Mill” (‘The Outlook’). Look for the windsock.

Drive into the property and park. Bring a folding chair. There are both sunny and shady areas available. Sit back, relax and enjoy. Refreshments are available, and there are toilets there too.

T.A.R.M.A.C invite you to come along and enjoy the afternoon. Remember, the launch is scheduled from 1:30 onward at their field. See you there

Barry Whisson
Launch Controller

Bruce & Denise Morcombe will speak to adults/parents around 10am, and they will be available all day to speak to those who visit the Health & Welbeing Expo. Bruce and Denise will speak to school students at 2pm.
The Tooth Fairy will be present all day
The Expo is open from 9am to 4pm, entry is free
Food, tea and coffee will be available to purchase
There are about 60 exhibitors who will be pleased to answer your questions, and some of these will have items available for purchase.

Helen Blanch
Community & Health Promotion Nurse
Millmerran Multi Purpose Health Service
50 – 60 Commens Street, Millmerran Q 4357
Helen_Blanch@health.qld.gov.au
Ph 46 953 123
Fax 46 953 133

(Our contribution to the Queensland Heritage Festival of the National Trust of Queensland)
St Luke’s Anglican Church National Trust & Heritage Listed Precinct Cnr Herries & Ruthven Sts, Toowoomba

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Reverend Benjamin Glennie, pioneering priest of the Darling Downs who founded the St Luke’s school-room/church (1857), precursor to The Glennie School. This was superseded by the bluestone church (1897, extended 1959) with its magnificent stained glass windows. Harry Marks designed the replacement School and Parish Hall (1911) with its innovative architectural features.

The Norman and Beard pipe organ (1907) underwent imaginative restoration in 1995. Dr Phillip Gearing will give organ demonstrations/recitals at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. The church, hall and organ are entered in the Register of the National Trust of Queensland.

Throughout its history the parish has continued to adapt to meet current needs, making a very significant contribution to the life of the city. Enjoy Edwardian High Teas ($10), other refreshments, guided tours and relax in the gardens.
Contact Details:
NTQ Toowoomba Branch with St Luke’s Parish
Phone : 4639 1910
Email: paulstep@icr.com.au Website:www.stlukestoowoomba.org.au

Clifton Ambulance Riders Group Ride for interested riders & friends – to Kingaroy and Return

The route for this ride will be : Leave from the Clifton Jam Factory, King St, Clifton at 9am , down the range – Ma Ma Creek, Gatton, Esk, Somerset Dam, Kilcoy (smoko at Kilcoy bakery) then up through Blackbutt, Yarraman , Nanango to Kingaroy RSL for Lunch (arriving at Kingaroy at approx 1230-1300 = approximately 270 kms, the RSL is in the main street so it is not hard to find).

We can meet riders from Toowoomba at the BP in Gatton if necessary
After Lunch, home via Brooklands , Maidenwell , Cooyar to Toowoomba (150 kms)

Cost: $5 donation to the Hospice per rider /pillion (after all, this is a fundraiser). I will collect the money (before we leave Clifton, or at Gatton for those we pick up there). Fuel stops for this trip – BP at Gatton (if need be for the cruiser bikes), Kilcoy (Shell), Kingaroy (BP right next to the RSL), Toowoomba for Cliftonites on the way home.

Note also that for this ride we will mainly be following the main roads, so no one gets lost (like I did last time). The only tricky bit will be on the trip home when we come out of Kingaroy through Brooklands , which I will lead and leave corner markers,  until we get back onto the New England Highway at the Cooyar range, then it’s everyone for themselves?

Rules,

Normal Group ride rules apply
Everyone rides at their own risk
All road rules and posted speed limits to be obeyed
Keep the bike behind you in view (headlights on)
No Rank & No Work talk

If you are coming on this ride let me know by email, Robert.Wardrop@dcs.qld.gov.au or phone QAS Clifton Station (07 4697 3183),  or you can just turn up on the day (but please let me know if you want to meet us in Gatton).

Submitted by
Rob Wardrop