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Over the years, the Australia Day Ambassador Program has allowed a number of high-achieving and fiercely proud Aussies to attend local Australia Day celebrations in towns and cities across the nation to share what Australia means to them.

It is with great pleasure Toowoomba Regional Council welcomes this year’s special guests on January 26th:

Designer and Inventor – Jean Madden
Speaking at Greenmount Australia Day Awards (From 10.30am)

After realising the negative effects of ‘sleeping rough’, Jean Madden designed the Street Swag made from lightweight waterproofed canvas with a high-density foam mattress that also has room for extra belongings. With schoolchildren, prisoners, and Aboriginal communities, Jean and her supporters have now bedded and given a basic shelter to over 20,000 of Australia’s homeless.

Speech Pathologist – Dr Dimity Dornan AM
Speaking at Oakey Australia Day Awards (From 8.45am)

Dimity Dornan AM is a speech pathologist, and the founder and managing director of Hear and Say. This not-for-profit program, opened in July 1992, and enables children with hearing loss to listen and speak through the use of modern hearing technology combined with the simultaneous education of parents and children (Auditory-Verbal Therapy).

Chef, author and television presenter – Ben O’Donoghue
Speaking at Clifton (From 7am) and Pittsworth (From 7pm) Australia Day Awards

For chef, author and television presenter Ben O’Donoghue, cooking is a passion and almost a reflex. It’s something he’s done since childhood and it never ceases to give him pleasure or stimulate his imagination. He unequivocally believes that food should be simple and distinctive,  and technically and culturally correct. Ben’s passion for the Australian countryside and love of local produce is very much evident .

Masterchef contestant – Ellie Paxton-Hall
Speaking at Highfields Australia Day Awards (From 2pm)

Before Masterchef Ellie was at university studying nursing and public health but always had dreams of becoming a chef and owning her own deli one day. She says she was very privileged to have the experiences of series three of Masterchef Australia. “I am very passionate about living a healthy life through food, indulging when necessary and not feeling guilty”.

You can read more about the local Australia Day Ambassadors by clicking here.

Jenny Foxton
Senior Communication Officer
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine is encouraging local event organisers to submit their funding applications by the Round 22 deadline for events held between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2013.

The Queensland Government recognises the importance of regional events to their host communities and local economy – they are a great source of pride, showcase the region and attract visitors,” he said. “Through Events Queensland, $18.3 million in 856 events has been invested in regional events throughout Queensland since the EQRDP began in 2001.”

Events held in regional Queensland have until Friday 17 February to be eligible to receive funding under Round 22 of the Events Queensland Regional Development Program (EQRDP). Events held after 31 December 2013 can apply in the next funding cycle – Round 23.

Mr Shine said regional event funding provides vital support for the tourism industry and local businesses. For more information on the EQRDP go to http://www.eventsqueensland.com.au/event-funding/eqrdp-funding-schemes

The Flood Monument will be unveiled tonight (Monday,January 9th) from 7.00pm to 8.00pm at the corner of Margaret and Victoria Streets, Toowoomba. Premier Anna Bligh will officiate and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will send a video message of support.
The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce would appreciate as many businesses as possible to be represented.

Chamber President Geoff McDonald has released this statement.

The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry applauds the decision to have a flood monument and encourages the business community to turn out in droves for the unveiling tonight, just as they did to support each other at one of our City’s darkest times 12 months earlier.

This monument will provide a lasting legacy of an event that devastated families, changed lives forever and destroyed homes and businesses. Equally important, the monument will provide an opportunity to reflect on the stoic nature in which our communities worked together; a reminder that in adversity people stopped their own lives to help others.

Finally, this monument will provide visitors to our City some level of understanding of the toll the event took on our community. It really is a monument on which the community can reflect, be proud and to look forward to a brighter future. We appreciate your support at this time of reflection.

The Flood Monument has been put into place on the corner of Margaret and Victoria streets, Toowoomba.

An art exhibition entitled The Toowoomba Tsunami Through Our Children’s Eyes” will be opened on the first anniversary of the devastating floods of Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley by the TRC Mayor, Cr. Peter Taylor on Tuesday the 10th of January 2012 at 5:30 pm at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.

A total of 60 artworks were produced by local children between the ages of 5 and 17, under the tuition and guidance of art teacher, Anne O’Sullivan at the Toowoomba Art Society in Godsall Street. Each artist was also asked to write a little about their thoughts and feelings surrounding the shocking events of that tragic day in our local history.

24 of the 60 paintings will hang in the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery from the 10th of January to the 5th of February, with the remainder on display in the gallery at the Toowoomba Art Society at 1 Godsall Street from the 4th to the 17th of February.

Admission to the exhibition is free and refreshments will be served at the opening.

The project was kindly funded by the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Community Cultural & Arts Support Fund.

Welcome in 2012 with a LOUD British Bang as our fabulous band, Hopney Moffett authentically recreates the music of  the Beatles – “The Fab Four” , leaders of the 1960’s British Invasion and favourites of all ages to this day.

With awards for The Best Dressed Beatle and Best Beatle Impersonator the night promises to be a ‘gas’ – lots of laughs, nostalgia and Beatlemania. You’ll know all the song… so come to Helidon and ‘Twist and Shout” the old year out and the New Year in.

The fun starts at 8pm Saturday,
31st December. The event is licensed and includes a light supper.

For on line bookings:
www.helidon.org/events