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After more than 30 years, the Jondaryan Woolshed has re-vamped its iconic AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL” to make it more family oriented and hands on” says Lisa Raklander, the General Manager of the Woolshed Complex.

This year we have moved the Heritage Festival to the Labour Day long Weekend and developed a range of user friendly” (day and night time activities) based (of course) on our historical roots,  but aimed on giving people of all ages the opportunity to get involved in some good old fashioned hands on outdoor fun,” Lisa says.
“Like everything in these days of virtual reality, ipads & smartphones and so forth” she says, people are looking for something fresh and clean to do with their families, whether it is grandparents, parents or children……the family unit is becoming more and more of a focus in people’s lives once more.”

Lisa goes on to say We have totally shifted our focus from displays of Pastoral and Agricultural memorabilia to the things that actually shaped the family values and activities of the time.

Over the three day long week end, there will be all kinds of daytime activities from damper and camp oven cooking lessons to children’s (including the grown up ones) contests such as three legged races, billy cart races, billy boiling races and so much more.

At night there are a whole range of activities planned from music and dancing to story telling and even a fun filled comedy auction…..walk up performances….or just a marshmallow toasting round the fire.

There are all kinds of food outlets including BBQ’s and campoven treats plus the venue is fully licenced.

Admission and camping prices have been set with a family budget in mind and all activities offered are designed for maximum visitor fun!

For more information visit the website www jondaryanwoolshed.com or email info@jondaryanwoolshed.com or phone 07 4692 2229 (during business hours).

Submitted by:
Emily Claer
Administration
The Woolshed @ Jondaryan
264 Evanslea Road
Jondaryan Qld 4403

The Macular Degeneration Foundation will present a free information session on Macular Degeneration in Highfields on Saturday, 12 May at Highfields Cultural Centre from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

This session will be presented by leading ophthalmologist Dr David Hilford who has a wealth of experience in Macular Degeneration. Attendees will be provided with detailed information including risk reduction, current and future treatments and how to live well with Macular Degeneration.

Macular Degeneration affects our central vision and is responsible for our ability to read, drive and see faces clearly,” says the Foundation’s CEO, Julie Heraghty. Quality of life and maintaining independence is the key to healthy ageing and living well with Macular Degeneration.”

There is a great need to raise the awareness of this disease and to ensure that people have access to information, guidance, understanding and support,” says Ms Heraghty. This is a great opportunity for all in the family to learn about Macular Degeneration and its symptoms, as well as risk reduction measures and treatments.”

ï‚· Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia.
ï‚· 1 in 7 Australians over 50 years is affected in some way.
ï‚· 1 million Australians had some evidence of this disease in 2010.
ï‚· 1.7 million Australians will be affected in the absence of treatment and prevention efforts by 2030.
ï‚· In 2010, this disease cost the Australian community approximately $5 billion.
ï‚· Four times the prevalence of Dementia and almost half the prevalence of Diabetes.
ï‚· There is a 50% chance of developing Macular Degeneration if a direct family member has the disease.

This session is open to anyone who would like to attend but bookings are essential via the Macular Degeneration Foundation on 1800 111 709. A free information kit will be provided which includes an Amsler grid that can be used for testing of symptoms. Free information kits are available for those who cannot attend by phoning the Foundation.

http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/

Australia’s leading junior tennis players will compete at the Toowoomba Regional Tennis Courts in style at the School Sport Australia National Championships.

Darling Downs School Sport will host the School Sport Australia 19 Years & Under National School Tennis Championships in Toowoomba from Sunday 29 April – Saturday 5 May.

Seven teams from representing states of Australia made up of 8 male and 8 female players will do battle in the School Sport Australia Pizzey Cup and Tennis Australia National Junior Championships at the new Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre at the USQ,  and Toowoomba Grammar School Courts. The championships are run as a joint championship between Tennis Australia and School Sport Australia and will see competition play in the single championships and team events over 7 days.

These Championships have been running for 49 years in its current format and have seen Pat Rafter, Roy Emmerson and Rod Laver represent their state. Which future stars will be on show during the week of the Championships?

The defending champions New South Wales will be challenged by a strong Queensland team which will be led in the boys draw by local players Mark Richards (Concordia Lutheran College) and Madison Simmons (Toowoomba Grammar School).

Play will commence each day at 8.30 a.m. with the team events followed by the singles championships at 12.00 noon. The finals will be played at the Tennis Centre on Saturday afternoon 5 May. This is the first time these championships have been played in Toowoomba with the new complex allowing the event to be held in the City.

Not to be outdone the future of Queensland Rugby League will be on show at the Queensland School Sport 15 Years & Under Rugby League Championships being held in the same week at the Clive Berghofer Stadium (Athletic Oval).

Twelve teams from across all regions around the State will descend onto the oval on Thursday 3 May and will play for four days with the final being played at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday 6 May. This championship will see the future Queensland Rugby League players battle over the four days to be named as State Champions and be selected in the Queensland Maroon & White Teams to compete in Darwin in August.

Many current NRL and Queensland players have been present in previous championships – Darren Lockyer, Steven Price, Andrew McCullough, David Taylor, Greg Inglis and Jonathon Thurston have all played in these championships. See who will be playing in the NRL in a few years time!

Games will commence each day at 9.00 a.m.

The Darling Downs team plays the strong Northern Region (NQ) in the first game on Thursday morning. The team is hoping for a strong showing in their game to ensure they progress to the top championship round on day 2.

Darling Downs School Sport is looking forward to hosting these championships in a very busy week.

Draw for the Tennis & RL Championships.

Regional trials for the 12 years rugby league and athletics with disabilities cross country trials will also be held during the week with local Downs students hoping to represent the region at their championships later in the year.

For further information please contact the Regional Sports Officer,
Wayne Beeston on 0419 731 493.

The Toowoomba Regional Council  has received approval to hold this election as a postal ballot. Voting is compulsory.

With the deadline for completion of voting papers in the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) election 6.00pm on Saturday, April 28th, residents are reminded that assistance is available if you have any issues.

The election is being run entirely by the Electoral Commission Queensland. For all queries please refer to the ECQ website www.ecq.qld.gov.au

If you have any questions relating to the Local Government Election, have not received ballot papers, accidentally disposed of ballot papers or have incorrectly marked ballot papers, please contact ECQ staff at Level 3, 10 Russell Street, Toowoomba or via the voters helpline 1300 881 665.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Toowoomba Service Centre
Toowoomba Regional Council
PO Box 3021, Toowoomba Village Fair QLD 4350

On Tuesday the 24th of April, Toowoomba will be host to one of Australia’s most famous ballet dancers, Ms Robin Haig, as she presents a lecture on ‘The Ballet Russes'(Russian Ballets).

In 1909, a group of Russian dancers, choreographers, composers and painters burst upon the jaded dance scene in Paris, appearing at the Theatre de Chatelet before a delighted and ecstatic audience. Diaghilev, the Director of the Ballet Russes believed in a total theatre concept and with a bevy of talented artists he galvanised and changed history in not just dance but in music, scenic design and choreography. Pavlova, Nijinsky, Fokine, Bakst and Stravinsky became world famous and over the period of 20 years artists such as Picasso, Cocteau and Satie collaborated in an unprecedented experiment of total theatre which continued to influence and inspire.

Robin is from Perth, Western Australia, where she received her initial ballet training. In her early teens she appeared in a number of staged productions and vaudeville shows, and at the age of 17 joined a new company, the Australian Theatre Ballet, directed by Walter Gore and based in Melbourne. In the same year, 1955, she was awarded a scholarship by the Royal Academy of Dancing that allowed her to travel to London to continue her studies at the Royal Ballet School. On graduating from the School she entered the Royal Ballet Company, Covent Garden, touring extensively to the United States and performing throughout Europe and Russia where she danced with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. She left the Royal Ballet in 1962 and worked internationally as a dancer, choreographer and teacher before becoming the director of the West Australian Ballet. Since moving to the U.S. in 1981, Robin has taught History and Philosophy of Dance, Dance in the Twentieth Century and choreographed as a faculty member at the James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and the dance faculty at the University of Colorado. Now retired she is Senior Instructor Emerita.

The lecture will take place at The Glennie Room, The Glennie School, 248 Herries Street Toowoomba, and is part of The Toowoomba branch of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s(ADFAS) 2012 lecture series. The lecture starts at 6:45 and is followed by wine and supper. Cost is $20 for visitors or $110 annually for members which includes 8 lectures for the year. For more information ring Judy Midgely on 4632 8993.

Submitted by
Michael Currie
ADFAS Toowoomba